Collector-tip video · YouTube Short
How to Check an Auctioneer’s License (Video)
From Dion Abadi, Atlanta-based art and jewelry auctioneer and author · · 42 seconds · @dionabadi-official
Summary
A quick collector tip from Dion Abadi: verify any auctioneer’s license with the state’s official lookup before you bid or consign. Rules vary by state; always rely on the official agency.
From the published YouTube description.
Transcript
Narrated with a synthesized voice.
Before you bid or consign, take two minutes and check the auctioneer’s license.
First, write down the auctioneer’s name, the company name, and any license number on the flyer or website.
Next, find the state’s official licensing lookup. Use a website ending in dot gov, not a third-party directory.
Search by last name or license number. Make sure the name, number, license type, and status all match, and note the expiration date.
Some states license the auction company separately, so check both. Read any public notes on the record, and call the agency if you have questions.
For an example, Dion Abadi lists his Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina licenses, with links to each state’s official lookup, at dionabadi.com/licenses.
Rules vary by state, so always rely on the official agency.
Read the full guide
Further reading
Dion Abadi’s books cover the same ground in more depth, from estimates and buyer’s premiums to provenance and condition.
- The Collector’s Guide to Art, Jewelry, Watches & Auctions (A practical handbook for buying and collecting art, jewelry, gemstones, and watches, and for understanding how auctions work)
- Beyond the Gavel (A skeptical look at art, jewelry, and watches as possible stores of value, and at the hype that often surrounds them)
All collector-tip videos · Licenses · Verify official profiles
General educational information, not legal, financial, or appraisal advice. Auction terms differ by house and sale; read the official catalog and conditions of sale before bidding.