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Posted By: davidcycleback

As a potential consignor (emphasis on 'potential'), it's your right to take the initiative about how the lots. If you are uncomfortable with the way an auction house is going to sell your items, you can chose to not use them. Realize, however, that the MastroNets of the world are unusually knowledgeable about auctioning and their insights into lot division is deep.

It is also important for consignors to write a brief report of what they are consigning, especially if the consignment is group lot or potpouri. This will be of great help to the catalog writer and will make sure the catalog description best describes your lot. In particular, you want to make sure the auction house doesn't leave something important out. I once won a baseball letters lot in an auction. The lot included unmentioned hand signed letters by Tommy Bond (first pitching triple crown winner in 1877) and Jack Glasscock. That's known as a nice surprise for the winner.