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  • Buying
    • How to Bid
    • How to Pay & Ship
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  • Selling
    • How to Consign
    • How Auctions Work
    • Request an Auction Estimate
    • Contact a Specialist
  • Departments
    • American History
    • American Indian Art
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    • Modern & Contemporary Art + Design
    • Modern Ceramics
  • Services
    • Request an Auction Estimate
    • Estates and Trusts
    • Private Treaty Sales
    • Museum, Historical Society and Institutional Sales
    • Appraisals and Evaluations
  • About Cowans
    • Contact / Locations
    • History
  • Search Auction Items
  • Sign In/Register
  • Auctions
    • Upcoming Auctions
    • Past Auctions
    • Search Auction Items
  • Buying
    • How to Bid
    • How to Pay & Ship
    • New to Auctions?
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Upcoming Auctions
  • Selling
    • How to Consign
    • How Auctions Work
    • Request an Auction Estimate
    • Contact a Specialist
  • Departments
    • American History
    • American Indian Art
    • Decorative Art
    • Fine Jewelry & Timepieces
    • Fine Paintings & Works on Paper
    • Historic Firearms and Militaria
    • Modern & Contemporary Art + Design
    • Modern Ceramics
  • Services
    • Request an Auction Estimate
    • Estates and Trusts
    • Private Treaty Sales
    • Museum, Historical Society and Institutional Sales
    • Appraisals and Evaluations
  • About Cowans
    • Contact / Locations
    • History

BUYING

  • How to Buy
  • How to Bid
  • How to Pay and Ship?
  • New to Auctions?
  • Terms and Conditions

HOW TO BID

Bid by Telephone


To register, call, email or click the “Bid by phone” button next to any lot. You may also download a bid form.

A Cowan’s representative will call you just before your lot comes up for sale, and bid on your behalf.

As the bidding proceeds, she will tell you the amount you must bid to stay in the running. Simply say “yes” or “no.”

We sell 80-100 lots per hour, but plan to be at your phone ½ hour before the estimated time your lot will be sold.

Please understand we cannot reach you if your phone has a caller block, the number is incorrect, the line is busy or there is no answer.

Bid Absentee


Bidding absentee gives the auctioneer permission to bid for you, starting at the lowest possible selling price.

If the bidding is competitive, the auctioneer may bid up to your maximum amount.

Absentee bids are recorded with the time and date of arrival. In the case of a tie, the earliest absentee bidder wins.

In the event of a tie bid between an absentee and floor bidder, the item will go to the floor bidder.

We accept absented bids via phone, email, mail or fax.

Absentee Bids can be left on our website, or click here if you prefer it fill out a paper bid form.

Bid Live Online


Register at bidsquare.com or click “Bid live on Bidsquare” button next to any lot.

We try to confirm registrations right away, but it’s best to allow several hours.

Once you create an account you’ll be registered for future Cowan’s auctions.

Bidsquare buyer’s premiums and terms of sale may differ slightly from bidding directly with Cowan’s Auctions.

Bid in Timed Online Auctions


Register at cowans.com and bid on your desired lots.

We will contact you via email or text if we post new information, if someone tops your maximum bid or if you are the winning bidder.

Consign with Us

  • Request an Auction Estimate

    Request an Auction Estimate

Auctions

  • Upcoming Auctions
  • Past Auctions
  • Peek in the Warehouse

Buying

  • How to Buy
  • How to Bid
  • How to Pay and Ship?
  • New to Auctions?
  • Terms and Conditions

Selling

  • How Auctions Work
  • How to Consign
  • Auction Timeline
  • Contact a Specialist

Departments

  • American History
  • American Indian Art
  • Decorative Arts
  • Fine Jewelry & Timepieces
  • Fine Paintings & Prints
  • Historic Firearms & Militaria
  • Modern Art & Design
  • Modern Ceramics

Services

  • How Auctions Work
  • How to Consign
  • Auction Timeline
  • Free Account Estimates
  • Contact a Specialist

About Cowan’s

  • Locations
  • Team
  • History

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