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, the system sets the current bid conservatively — just enough to keep you in the lead without revealing your full amount.
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 037 - Antique French-Language Leather-Bound Book Safe with Marbled Paper-Lined Hidden Compartment, Dedicated "A LA Reine" ("To the Queen"), Note Cover Detached 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 Bidder Terms.
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Lot 037 - Antique French-Language Leather-Bound Book Safe with Marbled Paper-Lined Hidden Compartment, Dedicated "A LA Reine" ("To the Queen"), Note Cover Detached
Lot 037 - Antique French-Language Leather-Bound Book Safe with Marbled Paper-Lined Hidden Compartment, Dedicated "A LA Reine" ("To the Queen"), Note Cover Detached
Antique French-language leather-bound book converted into a book safe. The interior pages have been hollowed out to form a hidden compartment, lined with marbled paper in blue, red, gold, and cream swirl patterns. The text block retains printed French text at the front, including a dedication page headed "A La Reine" ("To the Queen") with a decorative woodcut headpiece and an address beginning "Madame." Manuscript date notations are present on the front endpaper. The content of the remaining text is religious in nature.
The binding is full leather with a raised-band spine featuring gilt-tooled decorative compartments. The front board is fully detached from the text block. The leather shows heavy wear, scuffing, and darkening across both boards. The spine leather is cracked along both joints. Pages show toning and edge wear throughout.