Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

About Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries is the most distinguished stamp auction house in the United States, tracing its history to 1930, when Robert A. Siegel launched his first mail sale from Kansas City, Missouri. Over the decades it has grown into the largest and most respected philatelic auction house in America, handling the most important stamp collections ever assembled.

History

Robert A. Siegel (1913-1993) began his auction career with a modest mail sale of U.S. wholesale lots that closed on May 28, 1931. By 1934 he had moved his business to New York City, conducting his first public auction on October 17, 1934, from Room 605 at 116 Nassau Street, then the heart of New York's philatelic trade. Over his lifetime Siegel conducted 756 philatelic auctions.

The firm's rise accelerated in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1964 Siegel held his first Rarity Sale, a concept that became the firm's signature event, and in 1970 it auctioned the British Guiana One-Cent Magenta, widely considered the world's rarest stamp, at an event at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue.

Specialist departments

Today, headquartered in midtown Manhattan, Robert A. Siegel conducts approximately eight auctions a year, with recent annual totals reaching $36 million and beyond. Its expertise covers virtually every area of United States philately, from colonial and pre-stamp postal history through modern commemoratives and back-of-the-book material, and it also handles world stamps, postal history, autographs, and ephemera. The Siegel Rarity Sales remain the most anticipated events on the American philatelic calendar, and the firm maintains the Siegel Census, a database of important stamps and their auction history.

The firm has handled many of the most important collections in American philately, including the Josiah K. Lilly Collection, the Clifford C. Cole Jr. Collection, the Honolulu Advertiser Hawaii property, and the holdings of Clarence Brazer and Saul Newbury.

Buying and bidding

The bidding process at Siegel is designed to be accessible and transparent. Bidders can participate in person at the firm's Manhattan saleroom, by telephone, by mail or fax bid, or through the firm's online bidding platform, and registration is straightforward, with staff available to assist new bidders. All lots are available for viewing by appointment before each sale, and specialists are happy to provide condition reports and opinions on individual items.

Siegel's cataloging is considered the gold standard in the industry. Each lot description is meticulously researched and written, providing detailed information about printing varieties, plate positions, census data, and provenance. The firm's catalogs serve as important reference works documenting the history and pedigree of the most significant stamps to pass through the market, and the firm also maintains the Siegel Census, a comprehensive database of important stamps and their auction history that is an invaluable resource for collectors and researchers.

Selling with Robert A. Siegel

The firm charges a buyer's premium on all lots sold, in line with industry standards, while seller commissions are negotiated individually based on the value, quality, and marketability of the material being consigned. Siegel's track record of achieving premium prices means net results for consignors are typically among the best in the industry, and the firm also offers outright purchase for collections where the seller prefers immediate payment.

Beyond the auction room, Siegel operates an active private treaty department, handling confidential sales of important philatelic material for clients who prefer discretion, and provides appraisal services for insurance, estate, and donation purposes, drawing on its unrivaled knowledge of the American stamp market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a collector get an auction estimate for a stamp collection?

Contact the firm by phone or through their website for a free assessment.

Does Robert A. Siegel handle foreign stamps?

Yes, though its primary strength is American material.

How can lots be viewed before a sale?

By appointment at the firm's Manhattan gallery; an archive of past auction results is also free to access on their website.