1. The bidder accepts the conditions of sale stated as follows by offering bids via mail, telephone, fax, email or internet. DO NOT email bids on closing days.
2. Items are sold to the highest bidder. HAKE’S BUYER’S PREMIUM IS 15%. Reduced to 13% for check or money order.
3. Each item has a specific “opening” or “reserve” bid. If you are the first person to bid that amount, the item will be sold to you at that price unless another bidder raises your bid. Once an item has an opening bid, additional increases go in 10% increments. Bids are posted on the internet as received or you may call prior to closing days between 9:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. Eastern time, Monday - Friday to learn current high bids and place bids.
4. Tie bids are decided by the earliest bid received.
5. Bidders must pay packing, postage and insurance costs. We ship U.S.A. orders via UPS unless: (1) you request U.S. postal service or (2) if your order consists of light weight items under $50 total value, we ship via 1st class or priority U.S. mail. If desired, UPS will get a signature and not just leave a package unattended. For this service, check the “signature request” block on the bid sheet. Packages sent outside the U.S. are sent via either the U.S. postal service, surface or air, or UPS. All packages under $200.00 value are sent uninsured at purchaser’s risk for damage or loss, unless purchaser specifically requests insurance at the time bids are placed or at the time payment is made. All orders sent outside the U.S. with a value of $200.00 or more will be insured. Hake’s will declare full value of each package on customs forms along with factual descriptions of items enclosed regardless of insurance option chosen.
6. Pennsylvania (6%) and Maryland (6%) residents must pay state sales tax or provide re-sale number.
7. Offers to “top all other bids” are not accepted, but we can execute a bid on your behalf or inform you if your bid has been raised. See “call-back” details on page 5 or call for special arrangements. Hake’s specifically disclaims any responsibility or liability whatsoever for failing to execute a written bid, telephone bid, internet bid or call-back request on any bidder’s behalf. However, in the event of an error regarding a call-back bid, Hake’s may at its sole discretion re-open the bidding on an auction item.
8. Hake’s Americana & Collectibles reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids by any bidder and the right to limit the number of high bid inquiries via telephone.
9. Bidders who have not previously purchased from Hake’s must accompany opening bids with a valid Master Card, VISA Card, Discover Card or American Express number and expiration date. Such a bidder authorizes Hake’s to charge auction purchases and shipping costs to that credit card. If Hake’s is denied authorization by the card issuer, the bidder agrees to remit payment in full within two weeks of notification that the credit card authorization was declined. If payment is not received within two weeks of notification the bidder is liable for the costs and legal fees Hake’s incurs in the collection of the debt.
10. On closing days, telephone bidding begins at 9:30 AM. Internet bidding is occuring simultaneously and high bids are constantly updated. Multiple phone lines are available for calls. If the line is busy, we are still accepting calls. Beginning at 10 PM Tuesday for Tuesday’s auction or 9 AM Thursday morning for the Wednesday’s auction, we set a 3-hour computer clock to bring the auction to a conclusion. Read the auction conclusion procedure below. Questions about items cannot be answered on the last two days as calls must be kept short to give others a chance to get through. Call before closing days and we will be pleased to answer any questions.
11. Bids may not be cancelled for any reason after 9:30 AM Eastern time on closing days. Prior to closing days, contact Hake’s if you wish to cancel a bid.
12. Bidding sales are not approval sales. Winning bids must be honored by bidders. We cannot assume any responsibility for errors made in the amount bid or lot numbers listed on bid sheets. Check bid sheets for accuracy. Errors in descriptions or our inability to fill an order are the only causes for a refund. Requests for adjustments must be made within three days of receipt of the items and accompanied by a letter of explanation. Late remittance for purchases, however, is cause to negate this privilege. No returns will be permitted for any reason after settlement is made with our consignors.
13. If an item is damaged in transit or missing from your order, DO NOT DISCARD ANY PACKING MATERIALS. CALL US IMMEDIATELY AT 866-404-9800 M/F 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM.
14. All material is genuine and no reproductions are offered in the catalogue.
15. Electrically operated items are sold for their collectible value only. Actual use of such items is at the purchaser’s risk.
16. Hake’s reserves the right to cancel the auction or re-schedule the closing dates without recourse from any bidder or prospective bidder.
17. Should Hake’s be prevented by fire, theft or any reason from delivering any property to the buyer, any liability of Hake’s shall be limited to the amount actually paid for the property by that buyer.
18. All sales are for cash. Full payment is due 14 days after the closing date of the auction. Personal checks from first time customers require two weeks to clear the bank. Use bank or postal money order to avoid this delay.
19. NOTE: All bids are contractual obligations and all bidders are obligated to honor their bids as contracts to buy the items involved. Invoices overdue by 14 days or longer may be submitted to an independent collection agency and result in additional liability for legal fees.
Every item is assigned an "Opening" bid. If you bid this amount, the item will be sold to you unless another bidder raises your bid. Every item is also a assigned a price range letter code. This range is our conservative opinion of the item's estimated value. Generally, 75% of the items sold are at prices within or above our suggested value range.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | P | Q | R | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5 to $10 | $10 to $15 | $15 to $25 | $25 to $50 | $50 to $75 | $75 to $100 | $100 to $200 | $200 to $400 | $400 to $700 | $700 to $1,000 | $1,000 to $1,999 | $2,000 to $4,999 | $5,000 to $9,999 | $10,000 to $19,999 | $20,000 to $34,999 | $35,000 to $49,999 | $50,000 to $74,999 | $75,000 to $100,000 & up |
We have found 50% of the items sold are within our suggested price range, 25% are lower, 25% are higher.
Quote marks in a description indicate words that actually appear on the item.
Note: Most items we offer are in very fine to excellent or mint condition. We occasionally offer an unusual or rare item in poor to good condition.
Sizes of buttons and other small items on the button pages are given exactly and photos are to scale on these pages. Sizes of larger items may be rounded off to the nearest inch and photos are not scale. Thus, our photos of a gum card and a poster may be equal in size.
LOT ~~ This designation under a photo means items are included that are not shown in the photo.
RARE ~~ We've seen 5 or less examples.
SCARCE ~~ We've seen 6 to 15 examples.
CHOICE ~~ Recommended for superior quality.
SUPERB ~~ Outstanding, magnificent example.
MINT ~~ Flawless condition. Like new.
NEAR MINT (NM) ~~ Just the slightest detectable wear but appearance is like new.
EXCELLENT (EXC.) ~~ Minimal visible wear. Usually applied to buttons, paper and other non-metallic items. Also used for metallic items that just miss the near mint or mint level.
VERY FINE (VF) ~~ Bright clean condition. Well cared for with only very minor aging.
FINE ~~ An item in nice condition with some general wear but no serious defects
VERY GOOD (VG) ~~ Shows use but no serious defect and still nice for display. Metal items may have luster or paint wear. Paper items may have some small tears or creases.
GOOD ~~ Obvious overall wear and/or some specific defect but still with some collectible value.
FAIR ~~ Obvious damage to some extent.
POOR ~~ Extensive damage or wear.
Lay-away terms are available on invoices of $500.00 or more. Send one third of the total amount by two weeks after the close of the auction. The remaining balance is due within the next 45 days. The deposit is not refundable for any reason and no exchanges can be made. Items will be shipped when paid in full. An interest charge of 1.5% per month will be applied to lay-away balances that exceed the lay-away due date by 30 days or more. If there is a balance still due beyond 75 days of the original payment due date, the deposit is forfeited and the items returned to our inventory.
| MC or MULTI | EXC | W/ | LRS | HCS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multicolor | Excellent | With | Light rim stain on small area | Hairline celluloid split on reverse along metal rim |
| C. | N.M. | O/W | LITHO | LT | W.M. | VF | ST. WEAR | VG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circa | Near Mint | Otherwise | Lithographed Tin | Light | White Metal | Very Fine | Slight wear | Very Good |
| BKG | S.B. | M.B. | FTLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Silvered Brass | Minimum bid | Few tiny light spots |
| blw | gw | bw | bwbl | bwr | rw | br | rwb | yb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blue & green | green & white | black & white | black, white & blue | black, white & red | red & white | black & red | red, white & blue | yellow & brown |
CPB # = See page # of Hake's book Collectible Pin-Back Buttons.
HAKE # = Refers to Hake's 3 volume reference The Encyclopedia of Political Buttons.
We are beginning a new policy of free auction catalogues to bidders who purchase at least $300.00 in auction merchandise over the course of the most recent 5 auctions.
For current subscribers, after your current subscription expires catalogues will continue to be sent for no additional cost as long as purchases from the most recent five auctions total $300.00 or more. If the total falls below $300.00, a subscription renewal notice will be sent. The current catalogue subscription rates are $50.00 for 4 auctions in the U.S.A. and Canada. Overseas rates are $70.00 for 4 auctions.
Sample catalogue recipients or first time internet bidders will continue to receive free catalogues only if the purchase from the sample catalogue (or internet) equals or exceeds $300.00, otherwise a subscription is necessary to receive future catalogues. During the course of the subscription, if $300.00 is purchased over the most recent 5 auctions, catalogues will continue to be sent free with no renewal required. Of course, participation via our internet website is always free and requires only registration using a valid credit card.