The Auctioneer acts only as agent for the Seller (unless otherwise specifically declared).  Lots sold are likely to have been subject to wear and tear caused by user or the effects of age and may therefore have faults and imperfections.  Buyers are given ample opportunity at viewing times to examine lots to be sold and will be assumed to have done so.  They must rely solely on their own skill or judgement as to whether lots are fit for any particular purpose.

1.  Bids

All bids made shall be treated as offers made upon these Conditions of Sale and all persons present are admitted to a sale on the basis that they have notice of these Conditions.

2.  Ascertainment of the Buyer

The Buyer shall be the person making the highest bid which is acceptable to the Auctioneer as signified by the fall of the hammer.  No bid may be retracted.  In the case of a dispute the Auctioneer may either declare the purchaser or put the lot up again.

3.  Auctioneer's discretion

The Auctioneer has sole discretion, (a) to refuse any bid, (b) to advance the bidding as he may decide, (c) to withdraw or divide any lot or combine one lot with another or others, (d) to exclude any person from the auction rooms, and (e) to require pre-payment in full.

4.  Reserves and Seller's right to bid

Lots put up for sale are subject, (a) to any reserve price imposed by the Seller, (b) the right of the Auctioneer to bid on behalf of the Seller, and (c) where no reserve has been imposed (but in no other case) for the Seller to bid personally or through any one agent.  It is the responsibility of the Seller to ensure any reserves are received by the Auctioneer.

5.  Buyer's duties

The Buyer shall forthwith or as soon as possible after the sale, (a) supply his name and address, (b) supply, if so required, bank or other suitable references, (c) pay the full purchase price in a way acceptable to the Auctioneer, notwithstanding any prior arrangement for advance payment required by the Auctioneer, and (d) on proof of payment clear the lots purchased by the times specified.  Lots may not be cleared during the sale except by permission of the Auctioneer.

6.  Liability of the auctioneer and Sellers

Subject to Condition 8: (a) faults and imperfections (if any) are not stated in the catalogue and neither the Seller nor the Auctioneer is responsible for any defects whatsoever, (b) no warranty is given or authorised to be given by the Seller or the Auctioneer with regard to any lot other than the Seller's right to sell it, (c) any express or implied conditions or warranties relating to description or quality, are hereby excluded.

7.  Catalogue descriptions

Descriptive statements contained in the advertisements or catalogues or made up by the Auctioneer or any member of his staff should be taken as matters of opinion only, and shall not be taken as statement of fact.

8.  Forgeries

Notwithstanding Conditions 6 and 7, if the Auctioneer receives notice in writing from the Buyer WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SALE that in his opinion a lot is a forgery (as defined in Condition 12) and on giving such notification the lot in question is returned to the Auctioneer at his working premises in the same condition as when bought, then if on considering such evidence as the Buyer supplies to prove his assertion, the Auctioneer decides that the lot is a forgery the sale of the lot will be rescinded and the purchase price repaid to the Buyer.

9.  Property in lots and risk

The Buyer shall not become the owner of any lot, and the Auctioneer shall have a lien thereon, until the Buyer has discharged the purchase price in full together with any other charges due, but after the fall of the hammer the risk of damage or loss shall nevertheless be the Buyer's.

10.  The Premium

The Buyer shall pay to the Auctioneer a premium of 15% of the hammer price together with VAT on such premium.

11.  Default by Buyer

If the Buyer fails to make payment in a way acceptable to the Auctioneer or to remove any lot or lots bought by him within 7 days of the auction or in any other material respect fail to comply with these conditions, the Auctioneer shall have the right, (a) to resell the lot or lots by public auction or otherwise without notice to the Buyer, and if any deficiency arises on such resale, after deducting the Auctioneer's full costs and expenses, the Buyer shall be responsible to the Auctioneer therefore (but any net surplus to be the Seller's) or, alternatively, (b) to store the lot at the Auctioneer's premises or elsewhere and to release the lot to the Buyer only after payment in full of the purchase price together with any other charges due.  The Auctioneer reserves the right to charge storage of 50p per lot per day on any lot or lots uncleared by the time specified together with any removal expenses.  In addition, interest will be charged at 2.5% per month or part thereof (34.4% APR) on any accounts that remain unpaid in part or full 1 week after the sale.  Interest and storage will be charged from the date of sale.  In addition, the Buyer shall be liable for all legal and court costs incurred by the Auctioneers in pursuit of payment from the Buyer.  The Auctioneer reserves the right to refuse any cheques and will not release lots purchased until evidence has been received that any cheque accepted has been cleared.

12.  Definitions and interpretation

In these conditions: (a) Reference to the 'the Auctioneer' shall be taken to mean the firm of Gardiner Houlgate or any director, partner or employee thereof at the time of sale; (b) Buyers shall be deemed to be the principals unless to the prior knowledge of the Auctioneer they are acting as agent on behalf of a named principal; (c) 'Forgery' means a lot (i) which is so constituted as deliberately to deceive when considered in the light of its catalogue description, and (ii) whose value as such is materially less that if it had complied with the catalogue description; (d) The Interpretation Act 1978 shall apply to the general construction of terms and expressions used in these Conditions as if contained in a statute.

13.  Law and Jurisdiction

These Conditions of sale are subject to English law, which shall apply to their construction as well as their effect.  The Seller and Buyer agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.