We are pleased to see the level of interest in this auction. As we approach the start time for the first session, we have some final suggestions and advice for potential bidders:
• Check our latest summary of lot corrections and updates (the link is in the sidebar at the right). There are very few significant errors in lot descriptions, but small amendments may still help you change your bidding decisions.
• Use the opening bids (also linked in the sidebar) to help you fine tune your own bidding amounts. Opening bids are not the top bid, but rather one increment above the second highest bid we have received up to the moment. Lots that show $1 may have no bids, or only one bid on them at the moment.
• Bidders who still require approval to place advance bids and/or to receive an internet paddle number (enabling internet live bidding) should phone or e-mail us with your credit information. With less than 24 hours remaining before the first session, and an international clientele, we are unable to followup philatelic reference checks in time to get you registered if you are not known to us. Please note that registration is a two-step process: first, you must register with StampAuctionNetwork.com, and then you must choose Sparks Auctions as one of the firms where you wish to bid.
• Sparks Auctions Sale #2 begins at 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in Ottawa on June 6th, 2008. EDT is the same time zone as most of eastern North America (New York City, Toronto, etc.) and is five hours earlier than London England, or four hours earlier than UTC. For help in determining the difference between your local time and ours, see www.timeanddate.com/worldclock. We will do our best to keep to the schedule published in the catalogue and outlined in the Session Information, but you should also watch the live auction (via Stamp Auction Network) to see which lot is currently being called, when we are taking breaks etc.
Good Luck and thank you for your interest in Sparks Auctions!