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GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
The Auctioneer carries on business on the following terms and conditions and on such other terms or conditions as may be
expressly agreed with the Auctioneer or set out in any relevant Catalogue. Conditions 12-21 relate mainly to buyers and con-
ditions 22-32 relate mainly to sellers. Words and phrases with special meanings are defined in condition 1. Buyers and sellers
are requested to read carefully the Cataloguing Practice and Catalogue Explanation contained in condition 2.
DEFINITIONS
1
. In these conditions the following words and expressions
shall have the following meanings:
Auctioneer - James Adam and Sons trading as Adam’s.
Auctioneer’s Commission - The commission payable to the
Auctioneer by the buyer and seller as specified in conditions
13 and 25.
Catalogue - Any advertisement, brochure, estimate, price or
other publication.
Forgery - A Lot which was made with the intention of
deceiving with regard to authorship, culture, source, origin,
date, age or period and which is not shown to be such in the
description therefore in the Catalogue and the market value
for which at the date of the auction was substantially less
than it would have been had the Lot been in accordance
with the Catalogue description.
Hammer Price - The price at which a Lot is knocked down by
the Auctioneer to the buyer.
Lot - Any item which is deposited with the Auctioneer with
a view to its sale at auction and, in particular, the item or
items described against any Lot number in any Catalogue.
Proceeds of Sale - The net amount due to the seller being
the Hammer Price of the Lot after deducting the Auction-
eer’s Commission thereon under condition 25 the seller’s
contribution towards insurance under condition 26, such
VAT as is chargeable and any other amounts due by the
seller to the Auctioneer in whatever capacity howsoever
arising.
Registration Form or Register - The registration form (or,
in the case of persons who have previously attended at
auctions held by the Auctioneer and completed registration
forms, the register maintained by the Auctioneer which
is compiled from such registration forms) to be complet-
ed and signed by each prospective buyer or, where the
Auctioneer has acknowledged pursuant to condition 12 that
a bidder is acting as agent on behalf of a named principal,
each such bidder prior to the commencement of an auction.
Sale Order Form - The sale order form to be completed and
signed by each seller prior to the commencement of an
auction.
Total Amount Due - The Hammer Price of the Lot sold, the
Auctioneer’s Commission due thereon under condition
13, such VAT as is chargeable and any additional interest,
expenses or charges due hereunder.
V.A.T. - Value Added Tax.
Cataloguing Practice & Catalogue Explanations
2
. Terms used in Catalogues have the following meanings
and the Cataloguing Practice is as follows:
The first name or names and surname of the artist - In the
opinion of the Auctioneer a work by the artist.
The initials of the first name(s) and the surname of the artist
- In the opinion of the Auctioneer a work of the period of
the artist and which may be in whole or in part the work of
the artist.
The surname only of the artist - In the opinion of the Auc-
tioneer a work of the school or by one of the followers of
the artist or in his style.
The surname of the artist preceded by ‘after’ - In the opinion
of the Auctioneer a copy of the work of the artist.
Signed/Dated/Inscribed - In the opinion of tile Auctioneer
the work has been signed/dated/inscribed by the artist.
With Signature/With date/With inscription’- In the opinion of
the Auctioneer the work has been signed/dated/inscribed
by a person other than the artist.
Attributed to - In the opinion of the Auctioneer, probably a
work of the artist.
Studio of/Workshop of - In the opinion of the Auctioneer a
work executed in the studio of the artist and possibly under
his supervision.
Circle of - In the opinion of the Auctioneer a work of the
period of the artist and showing his influence.
Follower of - In the opinion of the Auctioneer a work execut-
ed in the artist’s style yet not necessarily by a pupil.
Manner of - in the opinion of the Auctioneer a work executed
in artist’s style but of a later date.
None of the terms above are appropriate but in the Auction-
eer’s opinion the work is a work by the artist named.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Auctioneer Acting as Agent
3.
The Auctioneer is selling as agent for the seller unless it is
specifically stated to the contrary. The Auctioneer as agent
for the seller is not responsible for any default by the seller
or the buyer. The auctioneer reserves the right to bid on
behalf of the seller.
Auctioneer Bidding on behalf of Buyer
4.
It is suggested that the interests of prospective buyers are
best protected and served by the buyers attending at an auc-
tion. However, the Auctioneer will, if instructed, execute bids
on behalf of a prospective buyer. Neither the Auctioneer nor
its employees, servants or agents shall be responsible for any
neglect or default in executing bids or failing to execute bids.
Admission to Auctions
5.
The Auctioneer shall have the right exercisable in its
absolute discretion to refuse admission to its premises or
attendance at its auctions by any person.
Acceptance of Bids
6.
The Auctioneer shall have the right exercisable in its abso-
lute discretion to refuse any bids, advance the bidding in any
manner it may decide, withdraw or divide any Lot, combine
any two or more Lots and, in the case of a dispute, to put any
Lot up for auction again.
Indemnities
7.
Any indemnity given under these conditions shall extend
to all actions, proceedings, claims, demands, costs and
expenses whatever and howsoever incurred or suffered by
the person entitled to the benefit of the indemnity and the
Auctioneer declares itself to be a trustee of the benefit of
every such indemnity for its employees, servants or agents
to the extent that such indemnity is expressed to be for their
benefit.
Representations in Catalogues
8.
Representations or statements made by the Auctioneer in
any Catalogue as to contribution, authorship, genuineness,
source, origin, date, age, provenance, condition or estimated
selling price or value is a statement of opinion only. Neither
the Auctioneer nor its employees, servants or agents shall
be responsible for the accuracy of any such opinions. Every
person interested in a Lot must exercise and rely on their
own judgment and opinion as to such matters.
9. The headings of the conditions herein contained are insert-
ed for convenience of reference only and are not intended to
be part of, or to effect, the meaning or interpretation thereof.