Auctions | February 12, 2015

Website Upgrade for AntiquarianAuctions.com

AntiquarianAuctions.com is pleased to launch its upgraded website. For over 5 years, AntiquarianAuctions.com has been running successful online rare book auctions, growing its database and traffic exponentially.

AntiquarianAuctions.com was set up by Paul Mills of Clarke’s Africana in Cape Town, South Africa and is still managed from the offices in Cape Town.

The site was initially developed out of the realization that online trading would become both an important channel for the international rare book trade and a very convenient way for collectors to buy. Within the last 5 years, the site has evolved from a largely local clientèle to an average of 65% international registered bidders in 2014, growing its international reach with each auction.

According to the TEFAF art market study, “the international arts trade has seen significant growth in its online sector in the past 5 years. Online auctions worldwide have been highly effective in attracting new, globally diverse buyers... Estimates of the size of the current online art market vary, but based on the most recent evidence from dealers and auction houses, online sales in 2013 can be estimated at in excess of ??2.5billion. It is estimated that online sales in the art market could grow at a rate of at least 25% per annum.”

Paul Mills, founder of AntiquarianAuctions.com: “From the mid-1990’s it became evident that the internet would fundamentally change the antiquarian book trade. Our response was in 2004 to start an online rare book auction site. Over the past eleven years we have run 110 successful auctions attracting buyers from all over the world. It is now time to add a younger but experienced team to manage the online sales and launch an upgraded site. I have always emphasised that AntiquarianAuctions.com has been developed by booksellers for collectors, librarians and dealers world-wide. We offer significantly lower rates than the conventional auctioneers and most importantly do not charge a buyer’s premium or other surcharges. After the auctions the dealers are put in touch with the buyer, enabling them to build valuable new client relationships,”

The new site is much easier to navigate and uses responsive technology for an optimal and consistent browsing experience across a wide range of devices from desktop computer monitors to mobile devices such as IPhone, IPad or Samsung Galaxy. 

The new Advanced Search allows buyers to search for specific items in the upcoming or current auction as well as in past auctions. 

Customer support is available to all sellers and buyers, offering demonstrations and guidance to new clients.

Bookdealers from around the world are invited to sell but must be vetted by the auction team to provide high standards of content and ensure accurate cataloguing of all lots.

AntiquarianAuctions.com is an online auction site dedicated to the sale of rare and out-of print books, maps & prints, documents, letters, ephemera and vintage photography. 

Dealers and collectors worldwide have been selling and bidding on the site since 2010. 

Only established booksellers who are members of major national trade associations such as ABA, ABAA, PBFA or SABDA or are of good standing in the trade are permitted to sell on the site. 

Auctions are held every five weeks and run on the model of a timed auction for one week. 

All pricing is done in US$. No buyer’s premium is charged. 

Next auction: Auction #41: 5th-12 March