Buying

Buying at Charles Miller Ltd

Our sales are held twice a year, typically in May and November.  Our catalogues are available online and are circulated to our clients up to four weeks prior to the auction.

Catalogues

If you would like to receive our future catalogue please email, fax or post your details to us and we will be delighted to arrange this for you.  The cost per catalogue is:

£20.00 at the gallery; £22.00 United Kingdom; £22.00 European; £24.00 Rest of the world. 

Condition Reports and Digital Images

We are happy to provide you with further information concerning any lot in the sale, such as detailed digital images and condition reports. We would strongly recommend that buyers view each lot prior to the sale. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Charles Miller Ltd is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any important notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the sale catalogue. All lots are offered and sold "as is" in accordance with the conditions of business printed in the sale catalogue.

Explanation of Cataloguing Practice >

Bidding Options 

The auction will run 'live but unattended', so you will not be able to bid in the room. Webcast bidding will be available on a number of platforms that will be detailed on the first page of the catalogue. Please note we will not be able to offer telephone bidding for this auction

Absentee or Commission Bids

If you are unable to bid online we will be happy to execute bids on your behalf. We would ask that you notify us of this at least 24 hours before the sale. We will require a photocopy of two forms of identification such as a Passport, UK driving licence or ID card. We may also require credit card details or a banker's reference. Please contact the office or download the current bidding form from the 'Next Auction' page and email it to enquiries@charlesmillerltd.com or fax it to us on: +44 (0) 207 806 5531. Bids can also be left directly through this website.

Please note that we accept absentee bids in accordance with our standard conditions of business.

Payment

Payment is due immediately after the sale for the total amount bid plus buyer's premium and tax, where applicable on that premium. In accordance with our conditions of business we accept payment in cash (up to £6000 by prior arrangement), by credit card (up to £300), debit card (up to £2,000), or by sterling cheque. We regret that we do not accept American Express. Invoices up to £300 can be paid online at charlesmillerltd.com/account/makepayment

Payments may also be made directly to our bank:

HSBC Bank Plc
38 High Street
Dartford
Kent
DA1 1DG
United Kingdom

Tel: 0044 (0) 8457 60 60 60

Swift Code: HBUKGB4B

IBAN Number: GB84HBUK40190401754750
BIC8: HBUKGB4B / BIC11: HBUKGB4128K
Sort Code: 40-19-04
Account Number: 01754750
Account Name: Charles Miller Ltd
Vat Registration Number: GB 928 5771 81

Collection of Property

You may collect purchased property from us as soon as we have received cleared funds for all your purchases. You may also appoint a third party or a shipper to collect on your behalf. Please note that we require your written authority to release to a third party.

Unless otherwise stated, all purchased lots will be stored at Charles Miller Ltd's premises at 300 Munster Road, Fulham, London, SW6 6BH. Please note that collection is BY APPOINTMENT on +44 (0) 207 806 5530. All lots should be cleared within one month of the auction date, after which they will be transferred to a third party for storage. A transfer fee of £10 per lot plus all incurred transfer and storage costs due to the third party will be payable prior to release.

Buyer's Premium

A Buyer's Premium of 24% is applicable to all lots sold in our main Maritime & Scientific auctions. Excepting lots sold under Temporary Import Rules which are described below, the Buyer's Premium is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT Symbols

† VAT at 20% is levied on the hammer price and premium.

For lots imported from OUTSIDE the UK, the following VAT symbols are used:-

‡ For items over 100 years old: Import VAT of 5% payable on whole hammer price (a further 20% is payable on the premium.)

Ω For items under 100 years old: Import VAT of 20% payable on whole hammer price (a further 20% is payable on the premium.)

CITES (Property incorporating materials from endangered species)

Ø Lots which require an export licence issued from the Department for the Environment are denoted with this symbol, typically whalebone and marine ivory are affected in our sales. A separate import licence may also be required by the destination country and it would be prudent to check with relevant authorities.

Droite de Suite (Artist's Resale Right - ARR)

δ / Δ From 1st January 2012 pictures by artists deceased for up to 70 years may be affected should the hammer price exceed €1000.00 and will attract a further charge as described below:

4% 1,000-50,000

3% 50,000-200,000

1% 200,000-350,000

½% 350,000-500,000

¼% 500,000+

No individual charge may exceed €12,500 and the exchange rate will be used by the European Central Bank on the date of sale.