Released on: January 13, 2008, 11:21 pm

Press Release Author: Lisa Marion

Industry: Internet & Online

Press Release Summary: Identifying Antiques & Collectibles quickly and accurately
has become a key for Auctioneers in becoming efficient and bringing good financial
results for their consignors

Press Release Body: San Francisco, California - January 12, 2007 - Antiques Auction
Houses and Auctioneers make money by selling Antiques & Collectibles to the general
public. Most items sold at Auction are consigned to the auctioneer by individuals,
dealers or collectors. At the end of an Auction sale, the Auctioneer receives a fee
from the consignors. Since usually this fee is a percentage of the Hammer Price, it
is in the interest of the Auctioneer to sell the items at a good price.

The vast majority of Auctions are public events, which means that the bidding
audience usually sets the Hammer Price. Therefore, the Auctioneer needs to make sure
that the bidders know as much as possible about an item to ensure a fair price for
the consignor. In addition to beautifully displaying items in the salesroom and
marketing an upcoming Auction sale, it is important that the Auction Catalogue
describes and lists the items accurately. Most potential bidders at an Antiques
Auction, pay special attention to the maker or provenance on an item to determine
its value so that they can bid accordingly.

Often, many Antiques Auction Houses employ antiques experts or Appraisers to
identify items and to have them properly listed in the Auction Catalogue. However,
most Auctions have hundreds of items for sale and this task can be daunting. Also,
there is a legal requirement that the descriptions of the items are accurate.
Therefore, auctioneers welcome the opportunity to get some help on identifying their
items since this will ensure higher profits and compliance with the law.

Marks4Antiques.com has developed an easy and quick visual method of identifying
Antiques & Collectibles online, especially when it comes to Ceramics and Silver or
Jewelry. Antiques marks are divided in Shape Categories that help locate a mark and
learn its identity very quickly by just browsing pages filled with marks that look
alike. "Using Marks4Antiques.com has cut down at least 20 hours of pre-sale
preparation when it comes to our Auctions," says Kathleen Greenaway, Senior
Appraiser for Cambridge Auctions in Sunnyvale, CA. "I am a member of both the
American and International Society of Appraisers (ASA and ISA) and have numerous
resources and plenty of experience to draw upon. Yet, www.Marks4Antiques.com is a
very vital and super-efficient tool that we use daily" she continues.

Bidders at auctions also appreciate accurate and correct information on items they
would like to buy. When an Auction catalogue is accurate, it helps them find items
they are missing from their own collection and are usually inclined to bid more
during the sale. In fact, this becomes even more important in cases where an Auction
is also broadcast on the web, as is the trend today. Bidders that cannot physically
be on location to inspect or "preview" the items, often have to rely on descriptions
of these items on the Internet version of the Catalogue. Although many such Internet
versions are nicely presented with photos and all, many bidders use "search"
features to find items they are interested. So the name of the maker of an item,
which is usually the most important aspect to determine its value, is the key
element that is used to find it and possibly bid during a specific sale.

As a matter of fact, beyond the level of specific Auction Sales that are also
broadcast on the Internet, many antiques Dealers have Internet storefronts or
websites that list and display their items for sale. In these cases, identifying an
Antique or Collectible accurately is of utmost importance, since this will become
the main way that an interested buyer searching through Google or other Search
Engine will find it. In technical terms, the maker of an Antique or Collectible
becomes the "keyword" that determines whether an item will surface during an
Internet search and cause a sale. www.Marks4Antiques.com is the most frequently
visited online tool that is used to help in this effort, since the information
available to members is constantly updated and vetted. Fakes or forged antiques
marks are easily identified, which helps avoid costly mistakes and keeps customers
happy. In fact, members to Marks4Antiques.com have access to personal expert advice
at no additional charge in order to inquire on marks they may have doubts or need to
confirm.

"We are particularly careful in addressing members' inquiries accurately and quickly
by our experts," says Lisa Marion of Marks4Antiques.com. "We are very aware that our
answers may have a financial impact on a member's decision, whether they are a
Seller or a Buyer of an Antique item. We like to think ourselves as 'antiques
experts on retainer' to our members. For some Antiques Professionals, this is as
important as having a good Lawyer or Accountant" Lisa added.

About Marks4Antiques.com

Marks4Antiques.com was created to help Collectors and Dealers to research Antiques &
Collectibles. The successful launch of Marks4Ceramics.com in 2004 was quickly
followed by Marks4Silver.com in 2006 and then Values4Antiques.com this year. All
websites were designed for use online in order to accommodate the growing number of
mobile Antiques and Collectibles Dealers that roam the country to different Auctions
or Shows and those that sell or buy online (eBay etc). Subscribing to any of the
websites provides easy and fast pictorial methods of identifying and self-appraising
items. An active member can also contact the experts of each website for personal
assistance when a mark is not already in the database at no additional cost. To
facilitate an unbiased Antiques Research & Evaluation environment, no Trade (buying
or selling) of items is allowed through these sites as they are totally dedicated to
Research. All staff are avid Collectors, Appraisers and professional Dealers. The
company is owned and operated in the State of California, USA.


Web Site: http://www. marks4antiques.com

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