Terms of Business
The auction is conducted under the Philatelic Auctioneers Standard Terms & Conditions of Sale (1973 Revision). The placing of a bid is taken as full agreement to these.

The auctioneer will buy on your behalf at the lowest possible price subject only to other bids received or reserves. The amount quoted is the item's reserve; bids below reserve will be ignored. Please check your bids, as we cannot accept the return of any lots bid on in error. All bids must be in £.

Bid increases: up to £25 in £1 steps £210 - £500 in £10 steps
 £26 - £100 in £2 steps over £500 in £25 steps
 £105 - £200 in £5 steps

Postal viewing facilities regrettably are not available. However, a photocopying service is available at 25p per copy (about 2 - 3 covers). Our policy is to describe lots as accurately as possible but any cover can be returned for a full refund if returned within 48 hours of receipt.

All lots must be paid for within 7 days of invoice receipt. Payment can be made by signed & crossed blank cheque (Eurocheque can no longer be accepted), or sterling draft, or money order, or direct to our PO Giro account, or by credit card (MasterCard / Visa only). Overseas customers paying in a currency other than £ sterling must add the equivalent of £8 to their invoices to cover bank charges. Payments outstanding after 30 days from sale date will be subject to a discretionary surcharge of 2.5% or £10, whichever is the greater.

The vast majority of covers in this auction are commercial, and have gone through the post, therefore minor creases / tears / stains are only mentioned if affecting the value / desirability of the item and are not grounds for its return.

An administration charge of £1 per lot will be charged on each lot sold. All postage & packing charges will be amalgamated within this charge for purchasers whose total invoice is less than £25 or who are successful buying 3 or more lots in any one auction.

VAT: the star symbol * before a lot number indicates that VAT is payable by the purchaser, at the standard rate, on the hammer price. The double star symbol ** indicates the lot has been imported from outside the EU under HMCE temporary import rules & that VAT at current rate 5% is payable by the purchaser on the hammer price. Overseas buyers are exempt from VAT provided the material is exported outside the E.E.C.
 

Abbreviations:

APO = Army Post Office                OAS = On Active Service
AR = Avis de Reception                OHMS = On His/Her Majesty's
b/s = backstamp                             p.stat = postal stationery
cds = circular date stamp              pmk = postmark
EL = entire letter                             ppc = picture postcard
FFC = first flight cover                   RPO = railway post office
h/s = hand stamp                           s/l = straight line
H & G = Higgins & Gage              TPO = traveling post office
MX = maltese cross                      TRD = temporary rubber d/stmp
m/s = manuscript                           udc = undated circle pmk