Heritage Auctions for Collectibles: A Practical Consignment and Bidding Guide
Heritage Auctions is the largest collectibles auctioneer in the world and the primary U.S. venue for authenticated memorabilia across space, music, sports, and street art categories. Both buying and consigning at Heritage involve specific processes that collectors benefit from understanding before engaging.
For Buyers
Heritage charges 20% buyer's premium on the first $100,000 of hammer price, with tiered reductions above that. For online-only sales, the premium is 22%. Budget 20–22% on top of any bid when calculating true cost. Read the full lot description including footnotes — important condition information often appears there.
For Consignors
Request a consignment evaluation online or at any Heritage event. Specialists evaluate proposed lots and provide estimate ranges. Seller's commission is negotiated at consignment and varies by category and expected hammer price. Heritage generally accepts lots with estimated hammer above $200, but the most effective consignment experience is for items expected to hammer above $500.
Authentication Requirements
Heritage requires authentication documentation for key categories. Pieces without recognized authentication may still be consigned but will be noted as "unattributed" in the catalog, affecting realized price. For space memorabilia, Zarelli and PSA documentation is standard. For street art, Pest Control certification is the recognized standard.
