Terms & Conditions

A1Definitions

In these Terms: the “Buyer” is the person who makes the highest bid accepted by the auctioneer; the “Seller” (or vendor) is the person who consigns a lot for sale, including anyone acting on their behalf; a “Lot” is any item or group of items offered as a single unit; the “Hammer Price” is the winning bid accepted by the auctioneer; the “Buyer’s Premium” is the charge added to the Hammer Price under clause B4; and the “Purchase Price” is the Hammer Price plus the Buyer’s Premium, VAT and any other charges due under these Terms.

A2Our role as agent

A2.1 We act as agent for the Seller. Any contract for the sale of a Lot is made directly between the Seller and the Buyer, not with us. To protect our clients’ privacy, the Seller’s identity is not normally disclosed.

A2.2 Where a Lot is owned by us, by a member of our staff, or by someone connected to us, this will be stated in the catalogue.

A3Eligibility and registration

A3.1 You must be 18 or over to bid or consign.

A3.2 You must register before bidding. If you are new to us, we may ask for proof of identity and address, card details, and trade or bank references. Please allow time for this, particularly if you plan to bid on higher-value Lots. Accepting a registration is at our discretion, and we may refuse or withdraw bidding rights at any time.

A3.3 By registering, you confirm that the information you give us is true, accurate and complete. Invoices will be issued in the name of the registered bidder, and that person is responsible for payment.

A3.4 We are required to carry out anti-money laundering checks and may ask for further identification or information about the source of funds before accepting a payment or releasing a Lot.

A4Special terms for individual sales or lots

Individual auctions or Lots may carry additional or different terms. These will be shown in the catalogue, in the Lot listing, or announced before the sale. Where they conflict with these Terms, the special terms take priority.

A5Personal data

We handle your personal information in line with UK data protection law and our Privacy Policy. Telephone bidding calls and the saleroom may be recorded for training, security and record-keeping purposes.

A6Use of our website and platforms

You must not use our website or bidding platforms for any unlawful purpose; post false, misleading or offensive content; or interfere with any auction, security system or website function. We may suspend or close any account, without notice, where these Terms are breached.

A7Governing law

These Terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of them or their subject matter, are governed by the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.

A8Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version published on this page at the start of a sale applies to that sale.

B1Bidding

B1.1 Every bid is a binding offer to buy the Lot on these Terms. Once the auctioneer accepts the highest bid, a binding contract is formed between the Buyer and the Seller.

B1.2 Online bidding. You can bid live through our own free platform, London Camera Live, or through third-party bidding platforms. Third-party platforms carry an extra fee (see clause B4.2). We are not responsible for any failure, delay or interruption of the internet, a bidding platform or your equipment, and we cannot accept liability for bids that are missed or not executed for these reasons.

B1.3 Absentee (commission) bids. You can leave an absentee bid through your London Camera Live account, by email or by telephone. State the maximum Hammer Price you are willing to pay, excluding Buyer’s Premium and VAT. We will try to buy the Lot as cheaply as possible, taking account of the reserve and other bids. Absentee bids must reach us at least one hour before the sale starts. If two identical absentee bids are received, the earlier one takes priority. We will confirm receipt; if you do not hear from us, please follow up. This is a free service and is provided at the bidder’s risk.

B1.4 Telephone bids. Telephone bidding is free and is normally available for Lots with a lower estimate above £100. It must be booked by 3pm on the day before the sale. We will ask you for a back-up bid, which we will place for you if we cannot reach you or the line drops. We are not responsible for any failure to connect or for a call being cut off.

B1.5 Room bidding. Room bidding is limited and strictly by advance booking.

B2The auctioneer’s discretion

The auctioneer may, at their absolute discretion: refuse any bid; advance the bidding in increments they choose; divide, combine or withdraw any Lot; offer Lots out of catalogue order; and settle any dispute between bidders, including re-offering the Lot. The auctioneer’s decision is final. The auctioneer may bid on the Seller’s behalf up to, but not at or above, the reserve.

B3Estimates and reserves

Estimates are our opinion of the likely Hammer Price and are a guide only. Lots may sell above or below the estimate. Estimates do not include Buyer’s Premium, VAT or any other charges, and they may be revised before the sale. Many Lots are offered subject to a confidential reserve, which will not be higher than the lower estimate.

B4Buyer’s Premium and charges

B4.1 The Buyer pays a Buyer’s Premium of 20% of the Hammer Price, plus VAT (24% including VAT) on every Lot.

B4.2 If you bid through a third-party online platform, an additional fee of 5% of the Hammer Price, plus VAT (6% including VAT) applies. There is no additional fee when bidding through London Camera Live, by absentee bid, by telephone or in the room.

B4.3 Shipping, packing, transit cover and storage charges are payable in addition where they apply.

B5VAT and import charges

B5.1 Unless the catalogue states otherwise, Lots are sold under the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme. No VAT is charged on the Hammer Price, but VAT is charged on the Buyer’s Premium and is not shown separately or recoverable as input tax.

B5.2 Lots consigned from outside the UK and held under Temporary Admission are marked in the catalogue. Import VAT (currently 5%) is payable on the Hammer Price of these Lots, in addition to VAT on the Buyer’s Premium.

B5.3 Any Lot on which VAT is charged at the standard rate on the Hammer Price will be marked in the catalogue.

B5.4 VAT rates and rules are set by HMRC and may change. The rate in force on the date of the sale applies.

B6Descriptions and condition

B6.1 We take care to describe and photograph every Lot accurately. However, catalogue descriptions, condition grades, photographs and condition reports are statements of our opinion, made in good faith at the time of cataloguing. They are a guide only and are not a full or guaranteed statement of condition. Lots are sold as seen, in whatever condition they are in at the time of sale.

B6.2 You must satisfy yourself about the condition, completeness, authenticity and suitability of any Lot before bidding. Please view in person, ask for extra photographs, or request a condition report using the “Condition Report” button or by email. Not inspecting a Lot, or not asking for more information, does not entitle you to cancel the purchase.

B6.3 If a Lot has no condition report, or a defect is not mentioned, this does not mean the Lot is free from faults, wear, restoration, replacement parts or damage. The detail we give will reflect the value and nature of the Lot. We may not be able to answer every request in the busy period just before a sale.

B6.4 We carry out a careful visual examination but do not dismantle Lots, open sealed units or carry out full technical testing. Our cataloguers are not repairers, conservators or service technicians. If you need a technical assessment, get independent advice before bidding.

B6.5 Unless the description expressly says otherwise:

• no guarantee is given that any mechanical, electrical or electronic function works, or works accurately;
• cameras, lenses, scientific and optical instruments, clocks, watches and hi-fi equipment should be assumed to need servicing, cleaning or adjustment before use;
• measurements, weights, dates and serial numbers are approximate and given for guidance only;
• batteries, chargers, cables, keys, caps, cases, manuals and accessories are not included unless listed;
• Lots described as a quantity, a group lot, a box lot, “spares or repairs” or “as found” are sold strictly as found, with no guarantee of completeness, originality or working order.

B7Photographic condition grading

To help buyers, we grade cameras, lenses and accessories. Grades are our opinion at the time of cataloguing, should be read together with the written description, and do not record every individual mark or fault.

Cosmetic condition

• Excellent (E) – as new or close to it, with almost no signs of handling.
• Very Good (VG) – minimal wear consistent with careful use.
• Good (G) – light marks or wear from normal use; some light brassing or edge wear possible.
• Fair (F) – obvious wear from regular use, which may include brassing, scuffs or small dents.
• Poor (P) – heavy wear, damage, corrosion or missing parts.
• As Found (AF) – not graded or tested; sold entirely as found.

Lenses and optics (refers to the glass only, unless stated otherwise)

• Excellent (E) – clean optics with no visible faults.
• Very Good (VG) – minimal marks; a little internal dust is possible.
• Good (G) – light marks, dust or cleaning marks that are unlikely to affect normal use.
• Fair (F) – noticeable faults such as haze, fungus, scratches, cleaning marks or coating wear.
• Poor (P) – serious optical faults such as heavy fungus, separation, severe haze or deep scratches.
• As Found (AF) – not examined optically; sold as found.

Shutters and mechanics. Where we test a shutter, we record it as working, not working, inaccurate (or slow speeds inaccurate), or not tested. Battery-dependent shutters may not be tested. Shutters are delicate, and even one that worked at cataloguing may not continue to work after handling, viewing, shipping or the sale. Unless stated otherwise, no guarantee is given for shutter speed accuracy, light meters, rangefinder alignment, film advance, autofocus, motor drives, flash synchronisation, displays or any other electronic function.

B8Electrical items

Electrical and electronic items, including hi-fi, are sold as collectors’ items only. They have not been tested for electrical safety, and no guarantee is given that they are safe or in working order. Before connecting any such item to the mains, the Buyer must have it checked, and if necessary rewired or repaired, by a qualified electrician. We accept no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from use of an electrical item.

B9Deliberate forgeries

B9.1 If a Lot turns out to be a deliberate forgery, you may return it and we will refund the Purchase Price, provided that:

• you tell us in writing within 14 days of the sale, giving the Lot number and your reasons;
• within a further 14 days you return the Lot to us, at your own cost, in the same condition as at the sale and free of any claims arising after the sale; and
• you provide written evidence from a recognised independent expert, acceptable to us and the Seller, showing that the Lot is a deliberate forgery.

B9.2 A deliberate forgery is an imitation made with the intention of deceiving as to its authorship, origin, date, age, period or source. It does not include an item that has been repaired, restored or modified, or that has replacement parts. It also does not include an item whose description reflected the generally accepted opinion of experts at the date of the sale, or which could only have been shown to be a forgery by a process that was not reasonably available at that date.

B9.3 This refund is personal to the original Buyer and cannot be transferred. It is the Buyer’s only remedy in relation to a forgery, and our liability will not exceed the Purchase Price.

B9.4 Apart from clause B9, and except where the law requires otherwise, the sale of a Lot cannot be cancelled once the hammer has fallen. Please also see our Returns Policy.

B10Payment

B10.1 Invoices must be paid in full within 7 days of the invoice date, so that we can pay our sellers promptly.

B10.2 We accept:

• debit and credit cards, through the payment page on our website using your email address and invoice number;
• bank transfer to our company account (details are shown on your invoice); and
• cash, in person, subject to our anti-money laundering checks. We may refuse large cash payments.

B10.3 Payment must come from the registered Buyer. We do not accept payment from third parties without our prior agreement. Lots will not be released until we have received cleared funds for the full amount due.

B11Ownership and risk

Risk in a Lot passes to the Buyer when the hammer falls. From that point, the Buyer is responsible for any loss or damage. Ownership does not pass until we have received full payment in cleared funds. We are entitled to keep any Lot until all sums due to us from the Buyer, on that or any other invoice, have been paid.

B12Collection and storage

B12.1 Paid Lots can be collected from our premises by appointment. Please email us to arrange a time. If someone else is collecting for you, tell us in writing beforehand who will collect.

B12.2 Lots must be collected, or shipping arranged, within 14 days of the sale. After that, storage is charged at:

• £5.00 per Lot, per day (or part day) for smaller items and pictures (anything that can be handled by one person); and
• £10.00 per Lot, per day for larger Lots.

B12.3 Lots will not be released until all storage charges have been paid. Lots left uncollected and unpaid may be dealt with under clause B15.

B13Shipping and transit cover

B13.1 In-house shipping. We can pack and post many Lots ourselves, in the UK and worldwide, using carriers such as UPS, DHL and FedEx. Packing and postage charges will be added to your invoice. If you ask us to ship a Lot, you authorise us to choose the carrier and packing method on your behalf.

B13.2 Larger items. Some larger, heavier or fragile Lots cannot be shipped in-house. For these, you must arrange collection through a third-party shipper. Our Delivery Policy lists shippers we work with. Any contract for that service is between you and the shipper, and we are not responsible for their charges, delays, loss or damage.

B13.3 Insurance is not included in postage costs. If you want your Lot covered while it is in transit, you must ask us for transit cover before dispatch. Cover is charged at 1.5% of the invoice total, plus VAT. It is only available on Lots that we pack ourselves, is based on the invoice value, and is available up to £20,000 per consignment (please contact us about higher values).

B13.4 Transit cover applies only while the Lot is in transit from us to the delivery address, and ends on delivery. It does not cover loss or theft after delivery, including parcels left in a safe place, with a neighbour, or on a doorstep. Any damage must be reported to us, with photographs and the original packaging, within 48 hours of delivery.

B13.5 If you do not take out transit cover, your Lot travels entirely at your own risk, and we accept no liability for loss or damage in transit.

B14Export, import and restricted items

B14.1 You are responsible for finding out whether a Lot needs an export licence to leave the UK, or is restricted from entering the destination country, and for obtaining any licence needed. A delay in obtaining a licence, or its refusal, does not cancel the sale or delay payment.

B14.2 Lots containing ivory, tortoiseshell, certain exotic woods or other protected materials may be subject to CITES rules. They will be marked where we are aware of this. See GOV.UK CITES guidance for details.

B14.3 Where we ship a Lot directly outside the UK and hold valid proof of export, VAT will be treated in line with HMRC export rules. If you or your own shipper remove the Lot from the UK, UK VAT will be charged and cannot be refunded.

B14.4 You are responsible for any import duty, taxes and customs charges in the destination country.

B14.5 Some Lots, such as blades, weapons or other age-restricted items, are sold only to Buyers aged 18 or over and may need proof of age or a licence before release.

B15Failure to pay

If the Purchase Price is not paid in full within the time allowed, we may, on the Seller’s behalf and without further notice, do any one or more of the following:

• cancel the sale;
• re-offer the Lot at auction or sell it privately, after giving you 7 days’ written notice. You will be liable for any shortfall between the original Purchase Price and the resale proceeds, plus the costs of resale;
• keep the Lot, and any other Lots you have bought from us, until all sums due are paid;
• remove and store the Lot at your expense;
• charge interest on the unpaid amount at 5% per year above the Bank of England base rate, calculated daily, until payment;
• apply any money we hold for you towards the amount owed;
• refuse future bids from you, or require a deposit before accepting them; and
• take legal proceedings to recover the sums due, together with interest and costs.

B16Limits on our liability

B16.1 Neither we nor the Seller give any warranty about a Lot other than the express terms in these conditions. All other warranties and conditions, whether implied by law or otherwise, are excluded as far as the law allows.

B16.2 Our total liability to a Buyer for any claim connected with a Lot is limited to the Purchase Price paid for that Lot. We are not liable for any indirect or consequential loss, or for any loss of profit.

B16.3 Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything else that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

B17Your rights as a consumer

Our sales are public auctions. Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, the 14-day cancellation period for distance sales does not apply to goods bought at public auction, including where you bid online. This does not affect any rights you have that cannot be excluded by law.

C1Consigning goods

C1.1 When consigning goods, you must give us, usually on our vendor form: your full legal name and proof of identity (passport, driving licence or national ID); your address and contact details; your bank details for payment; whether you are selling privately or as a trader, and whether you are VAT registered; and everything you know about the goods, including provenance, condition, any restoration, authenticity and any import or export history.

C1.2 We may refuse any consignment, including where we are not satisfied with the information provided.

C1.3 If you consign goods on behalf of someone else, you confirm that you have their authority to do so. Your obligations under these Terms apply to both you and the owner, jointly and separately.

C1.4 Unless we agree otherwise, you are responsible for delivering goods to our saleroom, at your own cost, by the deadline we give. If you use a carrier, that contract and its charges are your responsibility.

C2Your warranties to us and to the Buyer

C2.1 You warrant that you own the goods, or are fully authorised by the owner to sell them, and can pass good title to the Buyer, free from any third-party rights, claims or debts.

C2.2 You warrant that you have told us about every known defect, restoration, alteration, doubt over authenticity and third-party concern relating to the goods, and that the goods were lawfully imported into the UK where relevant.

C2.3 You will indemnify us, the Buyer and any third party against all losses, costs, liabilities and expenses arising from any breach of these warranties.

C3Commission and charges

C3.1 Seller’s commission and any other charges (for example photography, lotting or transport) are agreed with you when you consign, and will be confirmed in writing. All commission and charges are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.

C3.2 You authorise us to deduct commission, charges, expenses and any other sums you owe us from the sale proceeds. We are entitled to keep the Buyer’s Premium, and any interest earned on sale proceeds before settlement, for our own account.

C4Reserves and our discretion

C4.1 You may agree a reserve with us before the sale. A reserve is the minimum Hammer Price at which a Lot can be sold, and it must not be higher than the lower estimate. Once agreed, a reserve can only be changed with our consent. If no reserve is agreed, the Lot is offered without reserve and will be sold at the auctioneer’s discretion.

C4.2 We may refuse to offer a Lot whose reserve we consider unreasonably high. In that case, any costs we have incurred are payable by you, and storage charges under clause C9 may apply.

C4.3 Only the auctioneer may bid on your behalf, and only below the reserve. You must not bid on your own Lots, or ask anyone else to do so.

C4.4 We may sell a Lot below the reserve, in which case we will account to you as if it had sold at the reserve.

C5Cover for your goods while in our care

Goods in our care are covered under our own fine art insurance policy, at no extra charge to you, from when we receive them until the hammer falls, or until they are returned to you if unsold. Cover is at the mid-point of our auction estimate, and our liability will not exceed that figure (or the Hammer Price if the Lot has sold). We are not responsible for damage from gradual deterioration, woodworm, changes in atmospheric conditions, or the inherent fragility or existing condition of an item. Cover does not apply to goods in transit with a carrier you have arranged.

C6Descriptions, photographs and copyright

C6.1 We decide how each Lot is described, photographed, grouped and estimated, using our professional judgement and the information you give us. Unless you tell us otherwise before the sale, you are treated as having approved the catalogue description.

C6.2 Copyright in all catalogue text, photographs and video we produce belongs to us. We may use them, during and after the sale, for marketing and promotional purposes.

C6.3 If a Lot is found to be a deliberate forgery under clause B9 and we refund the Buyer, you must repay any proceeds we have paid you, within 7 days of our written request.

C7Electrical items

Electrical items are subject to safety regulations. We may refuse to accept, or may withdraw, any electrical item we consider unsafe. You will be asked to remove it at your own cost, and if it is not removed within a reasonable time we may dispose of it at your expense. Items we accept will be sold as collectors’ items, not for use without checking by a qualified electrician.

C8Unsold Lots and post-sale offers

C8.1 You authorise us, for 7 days after the sale, to accept offers for unsold Lots at or above the reserve (or above a lower figure you agree). If a Lot is sold in this way, these Terms apply as if it had sold at auction.

C8.2 After that, we may, with your agreement, re-offer unsold Lots in a later sale, at a revised estimate and reserve where appropriate. Otherwise, you must collect unsold Lots within 14 days of being notified.

C8.3 If we consider any item unsaleable, we will tell you and you must collect it promptly.

C9Uncollected goods and storage

C9.1 Goods delivered to us without sale instructions, unsold Lots, and unsaleable items not collected within 14 days of notification will be charged storage at the rates in clause B12.2.

C9.2 If goods remain uncollected 3 months after we have written to you at your last known address, we may sell them, at auction or otherwise, and use the proceeds to pay our charges. We will account to you for any balance. Items with no sale value may be disposed of at your expense.

C10Withdrawn Lots

If you withdraw a Lot after it has been accepted for sale or catalogued, or we withdraw it because of a breach of your warranties, you must pay a withdrawal fee. This is equal to the commission you would have paid had the Lot sold at its lower estimate, plus VAT and any costs we have incurred (such as photography, storage, transport or restoration).

C11Settlement

C11.1 We will pay you the sale proceeds, less our commission, charges and any other sums you owe us, within 7 days of the Lot being dispatched to or collected by the Buyer, provided that the Buyer has paid in full in cleared funds.

C11.2 If the Buyer does not pay, we will discuss the options with you. We are not obliged to pay you, or to take legal action against the Buyer, until we have received the money. Any action we take will be at our discretion and may be at your cost.

C11.3 Payment will be made by bank transfer to the account you have given us, in the name of the Seller shown on the vendor form, unless we agree otherwise in writing.