One of North America's leading auction companies, began in the mid- 1960's in Fairfield, Maine. At the time, Arthur Julia, (Jim's father) started the company out of necessity to assist in the marketing of the large numbers of estates and collection his thriving business was acquiring.

Julia's Auctions soon developed a reputation as a great source for buying and selling but was also renowned for their professional yet personable and entertaining manner. Their reputation for honesty and fairness became another key factor in the company's rapid growth.

In 1974, a few years after graduating from college, Jim purchased the company from his father. Jim's goal was to make the auction business a full time company and one of the leaders in the State of Maine.

By the 1980's, James D. Julia Auctioneers was conducting some of the most significant auctions in Maine and became known as a major New England auction company. In the mid-1980's, dramatic changes in the James D. Julia, Inc. company began to take place, making it one of the leading East Coast auction houses. Specialty divisions were developed including ones for Firearms, Glass & Lamps, Decoys, Antique Advertising, Toys & Dolls, Americana and Victoriana. Special catalogues, fully illustrated, were offered with most auctions. The descriptions for these offerings were prepared by some of the nations leading experts. The company also offered a limited warranty with all its catalog descriptions, a practice almost unique where "Caveat Emptor" reigns.

By the early 1990's, no auction company in Maine, and only a few in New England competed on the Julia Company level. It was now known as one of the leading auction houses in North America and some of its divisions were the leaders in North America.

Today, James D. Julia, Inc. travels to every state in the union (Alaska and Hawaii included) to examine estates and collections for auction. Consignments have also come from all over the world.

The clientele is primarily drawn from North America but also regularly attract buyers from various parts of the world.

Our offices and warehouse facilities are still located in Fairfield, Maine but we conduct auctions anywhere. Some past auctions were conducted in Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts as well as Maine.

We are the only auction houses in the USA operating on our level in a non-metropolitan environment.

Today, James D. Julia, Inc. is a unique company small enough to meet the personal needs of their clients, yet large enough to compete with and beat any other auction house in North America.

In the fall of 1998, James D. Julia, Inc. competed with numerous auction houses including international companies such as Sotheby's and Christie's to win a major estate from Rye, New York. Julia's not only won the competition for this $5 million estate but also convinced the heirs to allow him to move the collection to Maine for auction where he predicted the goods would bring more money. The results were extraordinary. Numerous records previously set at New York auction houses were shattered and proved not only the capability of the Julia firm but proved the significance of Maine as a major auction site.

January of 2000 was another historical milestone for the James D. Julia, Inc. The heirs of an $11 million decoy collection were trying to decide upon an auction house. They were considering the Guyette-Schmidt Decoy Auction Company (originally started by James D. Julia and for which Jim is still the exclusive auctioneer) and Sotheby's international auction house in New York. After much consideration, the heirs made a special stipulation for both Sotheby's and Guyette-Schmidt to work as special one-time partners to auction the collection. The results were previously unprecedented for both companies. The two different auction companies worked together, in partnership, to conduct the auction and on January 22nd, 2000, Jim Julia shared Sotheby's auction podium with Sotheby's auctioneers to auction the famous Jim McLeary Decoy Collection. Jim Julia was the first and only outside auctioneer to ever auction in Sotheby's New York auction house.

The Julia Firearms Division is one of the leading auction houses in North America and the undisputed leader in the Eastern US. In April of 2000, Julia sold a Winchester Model 66, forensically proven to have been used at the famous Battle of the Little Big Horn. The battle, in which General Custer and his entire command were annihilated by Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, is one of the most famous military encounters in the history of the US. This unique rifle sold for $684,500, making it the most expensive Historical American Firearm ever sold at auction.

The history of Julia's represents vast growth and continual successes and is just one of the reasons collectors, heirs, law firms, trust departments and institutions all over the US have used us and just one reason why you should consider us also

If you are selling a collection, an estate or a number of valuable items, there are various options for sellers, but none will beat the results of a professional live auction process.

In recent past years, the values of antiques have increased dramatically and the market has become extremely diverse. It is consequently impossible for any one collector or dealer to be completely aware of all current values and fluctuations. When selling an important individual item, a collection or entire estate, the live auction process has become accepted as the best overall means of dispersal. Auction prices, in fact, are most often the standard used for private transactions.

As indicated above, when one is considering marketing a collection, an estate or a number of valuable items, there are various options available. Of the various options available to a seller, the live, professional auction is unquestionably the best, when compared with other options.

OPTIONS INCLUDE:

1. BID PROCESS: This process involves soliciting a lump sum bid on a collection or estate through various antique dealers. It is a reasonably quick and convenient process that is absolutely assured to net you the least. After all, dealers buy wholesale. In addition, if the dealer does not specialize in what you are selling, the offer will be well less than wholesale value. If ultimate return is not a primary concern and you wish to sell outright, James D. Julia, Inc. would definitely want to submit a bid. We are one of the more competitive buyers in the country and are always interested in good quality collections and estates.

2. PRIVATE SALE: In this process, an individual price is set on every single item and a special sale conducted. This process involves tremendous effort from the seller, takes lots of time and will result in only a partial sale of all the items, leaving the seller with the unsold items to deal with after the initial sale. Most importantly, however, this process will result in a far smaller rate of return overall. It is impossible for any one person to know the correct price for everything and those items that were inadvertently under priced, will sell immediately to knowing buyers and can sometimes result in devastating losses for the seller.

3. INTERNET AUCTIONS: Today's rapidly changing technology is continuing to result in new innovations. One recent innovation in marketing goods is utilizing the web to auction items. Neither this, nor any of the processes above, however, can meet or beat the live auction process for results. Some of the disadvantages of Internet auctions are that they involve a considerable amount of effort and time. If you have a large number of items, it can take a great deal of time and effort to present these on web auctions. The seller frequently will need to offer some of the items multiple times because of lack of bids the first time around, or very low bids. Results are sporadic and it is absolutely imperative that you are very familiar with the true value of your items or some of the things may sell for a pittance in relation to their true value.

4. PROFESSIONAL LIVE AUCTION: This process is still the undisputed best means of getting the greatest net return for a good quality collection or estate. It requires the least amount of effort for the seller and in this situation a professional auctioneer works in partnership with the seller to ensure that the goods will be evaluated and marketed properly. The professional auctioneer uses his expertise to maximize results since the auctioneer and the seller have the same interests, and that is to get the greatest selling price. The auction would be widely advertised, assuring exposure to a vast number of potential buyers. The natural competition from retail buyers, collectors, museums, dealers, decorators. etc., all with mutual buying interests, will result in current market values and in some cases, items will be sold well above their retail value, as a result of the competitive interaction.

1. REPUTATION: Our reputation for honesty and fair dealing began in the 1960's at the company's inception and is renowned and acknowledged worldwide by collectors and dealers alike. You can count on our word.

2. TERMS: Our terms and commissions on valuable items, are always less than international auction houses and are some of the most competitive in the industry. We frequently encounter small auction companies offering fewer services but charging up to double our rates.

3. EXPERTISE: We utilize some of the leading experts in the country for cataloging. Smaller auctioneers frequently use one person for everything. International houses use primarily staff consultants frequently with limited experience or real expertise. Our catalogers are usually some of the foremost experts and dealers in the country. Many have written books and numerous articles on their subjects and are recognized, not only here, but also abroad.

4. AGGRESSIVE MARKETING PLAN: We utilize a very expansive marketing plan to promote your goods as widely as possible. The plan includes the use of Antique and Specialty Publications both here and abroad, Regional News Media, and a Tremendous Mailing List. Our mailing list has been formed over the past thirty years. Our huge mailing list includes many thousands of names which are sent lavish detailed illustrated brochures. Shows: When appropriate and possible, we promote our upcoming auctions and goods at various key antique shows. Catalogues: Our catalogues are some of the finest in the trade with expert descriptions, color illustrations and limited guarantees. They are mailed all over the world and are our primary reason for our hundreds and sometimes thousands of absentee bids we receive for each auction. Internet Presence: We have an expansive web site on the World Wide Web and promote all our auctions there well in advance. In addition, the entire catalogue is offered on our web site. Personal Marketing: We personally contact special collectors and buyers to ensure their knowledge and participation of appropriate sales. Press Release: We retain a special PR person to prepare and distribute pre- and post-sale releases to print media, TV and radio stations.

5. PERSONAL AND PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES: We are a full time auction house, conducting auctions all year long. As such, we have a full time staff of approximately thirty professionally trained people. We are fully computerized with state of the art hardware and software. We have large warehouses and vehicles for moving and storing goods. A full-time on-site shipping department and a state of the art security system.

6. WE WILL HANDLE EVERYTHING: We are not too big nor are we too small. We therefore handle multi-million dollar collections but are also interested in small collections and estates worth only a few thousand dollars. If, for some reason, we do not feel we are the best venue to sell your goods, we will not only honestly tell you that, but we will advise you of other options.

7. FREE APPRAISALS: We always provide free verbal appraisals on items brought to our office. We will examine lists and photos sent to us or, if necessary, may travel to you to give verbal appraisals. Written appraisals are always available for a fee.

8. WE TRAVEL ANYWHERE: If your collection or estate warrants, we will travel anywhere in North America to examine and discuss, with prospective clients, the marketability of your goods.

9. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL: We learned over thirty years ago, the importance of personal interaction and the importance of being sensitive to our clients' needs. Despite the tremendous growth, we have always tried to maintain that personal contact with our clients.

Please note that we hold some of our auctions in alternate venues located in coastal Maine or New Hampshire. Please check the auction listing on this web site for details regarding the location of the auctions you wish to attend.

We are located in Fairfield, Maine on Route 201, just a mile north of Interstate 95, Exit 133. Fairfield is about an hour and fifteen minutes north of Portland and about 45 minutes south of Bangor, the cities where Maine's largest airports are located.

From the North: Exit 133 off Interstate 95, turn left onto Route 201, and we are just 1 mile away, on your left.
From the South: Exit 133 off Interstate 95, turn right onto Route 201, and we are just 1 mile away, on your left.

Note: If you should need gasoline or diesel fuel, there is a very large gas station/truck stop with a convenience store and diner just a couple of hundred yards beyond our facility, on the same side of the road.