> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/transcribe-wellcome/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/transcribe-wellcome/research/auction-houses.md).

# Auction Houses

[Notes on auction catalogue annotation](https://wellcomecollection.org/works/h2byq8za/items?canvas=299), early-mid 1920s (in [WA/HMM/CO/Sub/204](https://wellcomecollection.org/works/h2byq8za))

It was not uncommon for [more than one buyer to attend a single sale](https://wellcomecollection.org/works/h2byq8za/items?canvas=343). Each buyer was asked to mark up a copy of the catalogue with the '[purchaser of every item, together with the price paid, including other lots purchased by our own people](https://wellcomecollection.org/works/h2byq8za/items?canvas=365)'.

Wellcome's marked up copies of auction house sales catalogues are currently being digitised and should be [available online](https://wellcomecollection.org/works/tmt535tq) shortly (expected by end 2021).

#### Common auction house abbreviations used on index cards and object labels

| Abbreviation | Auction House              |
| ------------ | -------------------------- |
| Bon          | Bonhams                    |
| Ch           | Christies                  |
| Deb          | Debenham Stores            |
| Fos          | Foster                     |
| Glen         | Glendining                 |
| H            | Hurcomb                    |
| K.F.\&R.     | Knight, Frank & Rutley     |
| P.\&S.       | Puttick & Simpson          |
| P.S.\&N.     | Philips, Son & Neale       |
| R.\&F.       | Robinson & Fisher          |
| R.F.\&H.     | Robinson, Fisher & Harding |
| Soth         | Sotheby's                  |
| St           | Stevens                    |