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.
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For more information on the bidding process, please click here.
Bid Successfully Submitted!
Your absentee bid for Lot 159 - "The Old Spanish Missions Of California" Antique Illustrated Exlib Architectural And Historical Book By Paul Elder, Tipped In Illustrations, Published By Paul Elder And Company, San Francisco, California, 1913 was successfully submitted—thank you for bidding with us!
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For our full absentee bid policy, please review the Auction Rules.
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Lot 159 - "The Old Spanish Missions Of California" Antique Illustrated Exlib Architectural And Historical Book By Paul Elder, Tipped In Illustrations, Published By Paul Elder And Company, San Francisco, California, 1913
Lot 159 - "The Old Spanish Missions Of California" Antique Illustrated Exlib Architectural And Historical Book By Paul Elder, Tipped In Illustrations, Published By Paul Elder And Company, San Francisco, California, 1913
Antique 1913 illustrated architectural and historical book titled "The Old Spanish Missions of California," written by Paul Elder and published by Paul Elder and Company, San Francisco, California. Printed and bound by the Tomoyé Press in October 1915 using Caslon Old Style type on Warren’s Olde Style paper, with full linen parchment binding. Includes historical sketches and photographic plates documenting the founding, architecture, and restoration of California’s Spanish missions. Features sepia and black-and-white photographs by Western artists including Edward A. Payne, Harold A. Taylor, H. C. Peirce, and W. S. Lankton. Illustrations are printed separately and tipped in. Covers missions such as San Antonio de Pala, San Fernando Rey de España, San Buenaventura, and San Miguel Arcángel. Includes introductory essays, historical letters, and detailed captions. Formerly held by the Gilbert Hart Library, Wallingford, Vermont.