Twenty-two New England Auction Firms with Distinctive Offerings

This list shows 22 auction houses doing business in five Northeastern states whose records are archived by RareBookHub.com It is not comprehensive, but as a survey of New England auction houses it is a good place to start whether buying or selling.

Most of the firms listed here are multi-faceted, i.e. their sales cover the whole range of collectibles including art, antiques, Americana, photography, ephemera and other categories, not just books.

Each company has its own terms, schedules and live and/or online events – so, if considering doing business be sure to make contact directly and read the specifics terms carefully. These include registration, buyer and seller premiums, shipping and other details before bidding or consigning.

Many also offer other services such as appraisals, consultation, estate sales and liquidations. Many provide informative newsletters and updates which can be accessed through the individual sites. In addition to upcoming sales, some also display the results of past auction and some include photos with prices realized as well. Some have merged, changed their name, or made other significant changes.

These are not the only auction houses in the New England area. Auction Zip has a list of other firms and auctioneers with a wide variety of goods including collectibles, real estate, vehicles and equipment.

At the end of each state there's a link to upcoming book sales. These events tend to be Friends of the Library or charitable events with books sold at low prices on selected dates or an ongoing basis. Also in some cases out-of-state/region events are also noted. Rare Book Hub Monthly does not vouch for the accuracy of any of these listings and recommends the reader verify the details.

Connecticut

1) Connecticut River Book Auctions https://www.ctriverbookauction.com/ Glastonbury, Connecticut River Book Auction (formerly CFA Book Auction) holds "list" and "shelf" auctions of good quality, used, rare, and collectible books, ephemera, artwork and other items suitable for Internet book dealers, shop owners, museums and individual collectors from across New York and New England. After expenses, the profit of Connecticut River Book Auction is given to Connecticut based charities. Their niche remains re-sellable books whose value is between twenty and several hundred dollars. On July 11 they host a live in-person book auction in South Glastonbury.

2) Litchfield Auctions https://www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com/ Litchfield, CT

Litchfield Auctions features property from celebrity estates, artist’s estates, and important private and corporate collections. Together with partner Capsule Auctions, NYC, and regional representatives, Litchfield sources property from New England, New York and throughout the country. Sales range from jewelry, Asian art, paintings & sculpture to design, silver, books and more. An auction of antiques, Asian arts and modernism is scheduled for July 16.

3) Nadeau’s Auction Gallery https://www.nadeausauction.com Windsor, CT

Nadeau specializes in fine art, jewelry, antiques, decorative accessories, silver, mid-century, Asian, coins, stamps, books, firearms, and many specialty categories. Founded in 1982 by Edwin (Ed) Nadeau, Jr., the company offers over 20 auctions per year with the average auction featuring over 500 lots. The company website mentions their on and off ramp location with over 20,000 square feet for display and storage. Nadeau’s provides services including auction, private sales, collection management as well as disposition and acquisition advice. A July 19th auction of decorative art, furnishings and Chinese porcelain is scheduled.

4) New England Auctions https://www.neauction.com/ Branford, CT

This auction firm has over 40 years of experience in the marketing and sales of Americana, antiques, fine art, collectibles, jewelry, coins and objects of value. It offers live streaming internet bidding on multiple online bidding platforms. In-house bidding, phone bidding and absentee bids are also available. Its specialty is the curated smaller auction.The company has two July auctions: Americana and Shaker items on July 16 and Native American and ethnographic offerings on July 17.

5) University Archives https://www.universityarchives.com Wilton, CT

University Archives has hosted some blockbuster auctions. On its site it is possible to review past auctions and prices realized. The company also posts a series of ongoing blogs calling attention to items past and future dating back to 2020. These posts are informative and feature many photos and good notes. On July 16 it hosts an auction of rare autographs, manuscripts and books.

6) Winter Associates http://www.auctionsappraisers.com/ Plainville, CT

For over forty years, Winter Associates has provided personal property appraisal and estate liquidation services. The firm has liquidated personal property for a variety of clients including law firms, museums, trust departments and other professionals. It also assists individuals who are downsizing or settling estates. It lists upcoming auctions, and also prices realized and photos of past events.

Connecticut Upcoming Book Sales: https://www.booksalefinder.com/CT.html

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Massachusetts

7) New England Book Auction www.nebookauctions.com South Deerfield, MA

New England Auctions has been operating since 1980, originally as Oinonen Book Auctions, and since January of 2010 as New England Auctions d/b/a New England Book Auctions, under the direction of Florence and Paul Muller-Reed. Each year the company conducts as many as 24 auctions and publishes 12 catalogues of rare books, manuscripts, maps, prints, graphics, ephemera and related materials. View upcoming auctions and priced auction results at their site.

8) Bonhams Skinner https://www.bonhams.com/location/BOS2/skinner-boston/

Boston,MA and other locations

Bonhams is an international firm, It acquired Skinner in 2022 and now provides local representation in Boston and Marlborough and worldwide service including Asia. Speciality areas include American furniture and decorative arts, fine art, jewellery, rugs and carpets, wine and spirits, and much more. To see all of Bonham’s locations worldwide visit their corporate home page.

9) Central Massachusetts Auctions https://www.centralmassauctions.com Worcester, MA

Located in Worcester, a short drive from the Brimfield Antique Flea Market, CMA services Boston, Metro West, the North Shore, South Shore, Western Massachusetts and all of New England. The company holds specialty auctions in a wide variety of categories listed here They expect to host a Spring 2026 auction of Civil War material, but details are not yet available. Though they do not show results from prior auctions, they do have an informative list of frequently asked questions and a comprehensive site map.

10. Copley Fine Art Auctions https://www.copleyart.com/ Pembroke, MA

Copley specializes in antique decoys and 19th and 20th century American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. This site is well worth a look even if this is not your area of interest if only for a look at their incredible bird decoys, bringing incredible prices. Their July 10-11 Sporting sale features over 600 lots, including decoys, bird carvings, paintings, bronzes, prints, etchings, fishing tackle, and books. Items offered can be viewed here They show highlights of recent sales and have an extensive archive showing photos and prices realized from past sales.

11. Eaton Hudson http://www.eatonhudson.com Boston, MA

This company specializes in liquidations. Eaton Hudson has a Boston location as well as other sites including Canada. .According to their website the company provides service and advice related to store closing strategies, relocation consulting, going out of business liquidation consulting, retail inventory liquidation, fixed asset disposition, wholesale inventory appraisals and auction, jewelry store advisors,collegiate asset disposition service, and other specialized services and consulting.

12. Eldreds http://www.eldreds.com East Dennis, MA

Eldred’s has been owned and operated by the Eldred family for three generations. Founded in 1947 by Robert C. Eldred, Sr., it is the oldest continuously operating auction house in New England. It is headquartered in East Dennis, MA, with satellite galleries in Hanover, MA and Mystic, CT. Throughout the years they’ve handled many impressive consignments and have been at the forefront of online auction technology. Their “Summer Living” auction featuring decorative arts, furniture, paintings is scheduled for Thursday., July 10, followed by “Americana Week” with auctions on Tues., July 22 and Fri., July 25.

13. Grogan & Co. https://www.groganco.com Dedham, MA + 2 locations Boston,

Boston’s own boutique, high-end auction house, Grogan & Company was established in 1987. Today, its gallery in Beacon Hill holds six major auctions annually, featuring two fine art and two fine jewelry auctions, a silver and decorative arts auction, and a highly anticipated fine rugs and textiles auction. Its next auctions are listed for November. The site shows prices realized for selected items, it also allows flipping through past catalogs but does not indicate the selling prices.

14. Marion Antique Auction http://www.marionantiqueauctions.com Marion, MA Marian Antique Auction hosted three major sales in 2024 and has conducted one event so far this year. Based in Marion, MA they also operate a retail shop.The company lists their specialties as Americana, fine and decorative arts, maritime art and antiques, rugs, silver, jewelry, coins, books and ephemera, ethnographic items, clocks and watches, 20th century art and design. Frank Macnamee and David Glynn are co-owners and auctioneers. The site lists two events scheduled for November

15. John McInnis Auctioneer http://www.mcinnisauctions.com/ Amesbury, MA

McInnis Auctioneers is a professional estate appraiser and auctioneer with a full-service auction house on Boston's North Shore. The galleries, located in Amesbury, are licensed, bonded, and insured for the sale of antiques, fine art, and real estate. The firm offers professional services in estate appraisal, consulting, marketing, and liquidation. Clients include estate trust officers, banks, realtors, and private collectors. The company hosts a Portland Maine West End auction on July 10, followed by a Cambridge, MA online estate auction on July 13.

16. RR Auction http://www.rrauction.com Boston, MA & Amherst , NH

Beginning in 1976 Bob Eaton, CEO and founder, began buying and selling sports memorabilia. The business grew quickly; by 1995 it had evolved into an auction house. In 2002 it became one of the first auction firms to feature online bidding. The website features a list of 100 top selling items with prices realized ranging from $149,000 to $28,000,000. Many of the best selling items come from the world of technology, space and popular culture. Between July and December the company has 11 auctions scheduled including Steve Jobs and the Apple Revolution ending on Aug. 21.

17. Sandwich Auction House http://www.sandwichauction.com Sandwich, MA

This firm has hosted six auctions in 2025 and has one Americana event scheduled for July 16. Founded in 1974, Sandwich Auction House provides comprehensive estate auction services to Southern New England and beyond. In 2020, after almost 50 years selling hundreds of thousands of items and bringing in tens of millions of dollars, Sandwich Auction was acquired by Eldred’s, New England’s oldest established auction house and a widely recognized leader in Americana and Maritime Art. At that time, Eldred’s acquired the rights to the Sandwich Auction name and brought the company owner and president, Duncan Gray, on board as a senior appraiser. (See also Eldreds #11 on this list). The Sandwich Auction brand was retired for a few years but was relaunched in February of 2025 as an online-only auction platform under the Eldred’s umbrella.

Massachusetts: Upcoming Book Sales: https://www.booksalefinder.com/MA.html

Vermont

18. Parkinson Books & Auctions https://www.parkinsonbooks.com Hinesburg, VT

This is an antiquarian book dealer specializing in Vermont books, maps, broadsides and ephemera. It has been selling Vermontiana for over 39 years and to date has produced 236 catalogues of Vermont material. This site lists a number of completed auction events as recently as last year; but does not show any auctions currently scheduled for the future.

19. SB and Co. https://www.sbauctioneers.com Putney, VT

Sharon Bocelli & Co. Auctioneers located in Southeastern Vermont specializes in early antiques through mid-modern items.

The company conducts its online sales through AuctionZip and LiveAuctioneers sites. Its own website furnishes minimal information and does not list the specifics of any past or future auctions.

Vermont Upcoming Book Sales: https://www.booksalefinder.com/VT.html

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Maine

20. Casco Bay Auctions https://cascobayauctions.com/ Freeport, ME

Founded in 2019 this firm bills itself as a local company with a global reach. It lists two upcoming events, one in July, “Mod and Odd” and a second in August titled “Summer Americana 2025.” Its archives feature the results of many recent auctions.

Maine Upcoming Book Sales https://www.booksalefinder.com/ME.html

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New Hampshire

21. Scott J. Winslow Assoc. https://www.scottwinslow.com/ Merrimack, NH

Winslow Associates, Inc. has been a full time, professional dealer in autographs and historical documents since 1985. The company handles a wide variety of historical American collectibles specializing in autographs, manuscripts, stocks and bonds, paper money. Considered an authority in the field of business history, it has conducted numerous mail, phone and public auctions of historical documents and Americana including many sales with a special emphasis on business and financial history. It does not presently have any past or upcoming auctions listed on its site.

22. Withington Auctions Inc. https://withingtonauction.com/ Hillsborough,, NH

This New Hampshire auction specializes in antiques, fine furnishings and antique dolls since 1949. They list a number of doll catalogs including prices realized dating back to 2010. Their site presently does not show any upcoming events.

New Hampshire Upcoming Book Sales: https://www.booksalefinder.com/NH.html

Rhode Island Upcoming Book Sales https://www.booksalefinder.com/RI.html