National
Book Auctions is the product of an evolution.
The company was launched in the 1990’s, selling
rare and collectible books online when the Internet
was just beginning to take shape. During its development,
the management has embraced all manner of bookselling
methods including online auction, online retail, bricks-and-mortar
retail, and live auction. In 2004, the company purchased
a retail space in Ithaca,
New York and the first gallery-based auction was
held on January 23rd, 2005. That model continues today
with auctions that are open to the public and also
incorporate online absentee bidding prior to and real-time
online and phone bidding during each auction.
Since
the earliest days, consignment work has always been
a part of the company’s services and today,
it is the backbone. Early in the company’s history,
inventory was frequently purchased at estate and other
auctions.
On several occasions, company buyers acquired individual
books and other paper items that were worth small
fortunes, for very low hammer prices. This pattern
demonstrated that an important market was being underserved.
Hence, the gallery was opened with the very deliberate
plan to act as advocates for heirs, institutions and
individuals with books and ephemera to sell, who need
outside expertise to evaluate and market their material
for a fair return.
The
dedicated and expert staff of National Book Auctions
draw upon decades of experience in the worlds of collectible
books and ephemera. Since the company started, National
Book Auctions and its partner companies have sold
hundreds of thousands of volumes through live auction
and online markets. The methods used by National Book
Auctions today to market collectible books and ephemera
are effective because they are highly evolved and
embrace the most current trends in values and collecting
patterns.
