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 040 - Vintage Yellow “Leonard Spaulding House c. 1856” Painted Wooden Board Sign, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, 14-7/8" x 13-5/8" 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.
Confirm Bid
Lot 040 - Vintage Yellow “Leonard Spaulding House c. 1856” Painted Wooden Board Sign, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, 14-7/8" x 13-5/8"
Wooden board sign with raised wood border painted black to form a frame, yellow surround, and painted lettering “Leonard Spaulding House c. 1856.” Condition includes wear and tear consistent with age.
"The house was likely constructed circa 1856 for Charles and Emily Reed and substantially remodeled circa 1905 for Leonard Spaulding. Charles Spaulding Reed (1835-1898) married Emily E. Emerson (1837-1909) in 1856. The house was likely constructed soon thereafter, on land owned by Emily’s father, Owen Emerson. Owen and Louisa Emerson lived next door at 140 North Road. A Civil War veteran, Charles S. Reed worked as a farmer, as indicated in census records. After Owen Emerson’s death, Emily’s brother, H. Herbert Emerson, sold the land in 1879 to Stephen A. Coburn of Lowell, who appears to have been a real estate investor. Census records, the 1889 atlas, and an 1896-1897 city directory indicate that Charles and Emily Reed continued to make this their residence."
Source: https://chelmsfordgov.com/CHCwebsite/PDF_files/North_150.pdf