Absentee bids let you place your maximum bid on an item before the live auction begins. During the live show, we’ll continue bidding on your behalf up to your max bid — just like leaving a bid with a traditional auctioneer.
When you place an absentee bid, you’ll choose a bid strategy. Your chosen strategy determines how the current bid will be set at the time your bid is placed. Your maximum bid always remains confidential.
The available strategies are:
🐢 Slow & Steady — starts your bid low and lets others chase you.
⚡💥 Power Bid — starts at about half your max to show intent without revealing your top number.
♥️♠️ All In ♦️♣️ — sets the current bid to your full bid amount right away.
The current bid shown on each lot reflects all confirmed absentee bids and updates automatically as new bids come in.
When the live auction starts, bidding will begin at the current bid. The auctioneer will continue bidding on behalf of absentee bidders up to their max bids.
Because absentee bids can arrive seconds apart, the current bid you see may not always include bids still being processed. Refresh the page for the most up-to-date information.
For our full absentee bid policy, please click here.
Bidding Quick Facts
How bidding works
All items have a minimum bid of $1.00.
When "No Bids" is displayed, it means no absentee bids have been placed on this item yet.
Once bids are placed, the current bid will be displayed instead.
For more information on the bidding process, please click here.
Bid Successfully Submitted!
Your absentee bid for Lot 125 - Antique Wanted Poster For H.M. Whitney, Felony Embezzlement, Office Of The Chief Of Police, Bureau Of Identification, San Francisco, California, July 30, 1910 was successfully submitted—thank you for bidding with us!
The current bid displayed will not update immediately. You will receive a confirmation email shortly.
You may continue to place additional bids.
For our full absentee bid policy, please review the Auction Rules.
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Lot 125 - Antique Wanted Poster For H.M. Whitney, Felony Embezzlement, Office Of The Chief Of Police, Bureau Of Identification, San Francisco, California, July 30, 1910
Lot 125 - Antique Wanted Poster For H.M. Whitney, Felony Embezzlement, Office Of The Chief Of Police, Bureau Of Identification, San Francisco, California, July 30, 1910
This is a wanted poster issued by the Office of the Chief of Police, Bureau of Identification, for H.M. Whitney, wanted for felony embezzlement. Dated San Francisco, California, July 30, 1910, signed by John B. Martin, Chief of Police. The poster includes a detailed physical description: age 55 years, height five feet seven inches, weight about 140 pounds, complexion fair, hair gray, bald front to top, eyes brown, teeth decayed and discolored in front and show when talking, clean shaven, walks erect with a swagger, has been in army. Text notes Whitney wore a dark blue serge suit when he left and may be wearing a black three-quarter overcoat, may be accompanied by his wife, a young woman. Warrant charging felony embezzlement issued by Hon. Charles T. Conlan, Judge of the Police Court, Department No. 2, sworn to by W.A. Blair, treasurer of the Pacific States Electric Company. Instructions state if located or arrested, wire and an officer with proper papers will be sent. Printed by Pernau Pub. Co., 423 Hayes St., S.F. Poster shows age toning, creasing, edge wear, and handling marks consistent with age and use.