Consignment
Giving your items to an auction house or dealer to sell on your behalf.
Consignment is the process of providing your collectible items to an auction house, dealer, or selling platform to sell on your behalf. The consignee handles marketing, listing, selling, and shipping, and takes a commission from the final sale price.
Major auction houses for autograph consignment include Heritage Auctions, Goldin, SCP Auctions, and Hunt Auctions. These companies specialize in sports memorabilia and have large buyer bases that can maximize sale prices.
Consignment commissions typically range from 10-20% of the final sale price, depending on the auction house and the value of the items. Some auction houses also charge a buyer's premium (additional fee paid by the buyer), which effectively comes from the selling price.
The advantages of consignment include access to a larger buyer pool, professional photography and marketing, authentication assistance, and the auction house's reputation backing the sale. For high-value items, auction consignment often achieves better prices than private sales.
Before consigning, research multiple auction houses, compare commission rates, ask about marketing plans for your items, and review their upcoming auction schedule. Timing your consignment with a relevant themed auction (e.g., baseball items during World Series season) can maximize results.
101 Pre-Screen is an AI-assisted opinion, not authentication or an appraisal.