Date: Fri 19-Feb-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Auction-Universe-online-Web

Full Text:

Auction Universe And Edward Carter Gallery Online Auction

NEW YORK CITY -- Auction Universe (www.auctionuniverse.com) and the Edward

Carter Gallery break will new ground when the businesses co-conduct the first

combination gallery opening and online auction to the fine art world and the

Internet.

The auction will begin on Thursday, February 18, and will run for two weeks,

featuring works by photographer Ansel Adams. The auction will feature Bid$afe,

Auction Universe's security feature.

"This will be the inaugural event for the gallery," said Larry Schwartz, the

president and general manager of Auction Universe. "An online fine art auction

is the perfect way to further democratize the buying of fine art. Bringing

Ansel Adams photography to the public via the Internet allows art lovers from

Texas to China the chance to begin a collection of serious art."

"Auction Universe has always been the site for quality online auctions, and

working with them to launch our gallery allows a much larger audience to

participate in the gallery's opening," said Edward Carter, the president of

Edward Carter Gallery. "Also, the security that Auction Universe is able to

offer with its Bid$afe program made them the most attractive online auction

site with whom to partner.

"We are excited about contributing to the first online auction of fine art,

which will be important to the art industry in the future."

According to the gallery, it will have the world's largest and most complete

inventory of Ansel Adams' most famous works, including "Moonrise, Hernandez,

New Mexico," "Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Valley, California" and "Mount

Williamson, Sierra Nevada, from Manazar, California."

The 14 Adams prints offered have an estimated value of nearly $125,000.

In addition to viewing the items online, interested persons can see the

photographs at the newly opened Edward Carter Gallery at 560 Broadway (at

Prince Street). The gallery will feature works by leading Twentieth Century

photographers as well as new emerging photographers, and plans to pioneer new

ways to use the Internet and new media to exhibit photography and redefine the

gallery experience. Edward Carter Gallery will be the first gallery of its

size to sell fine art via the Internet on a regular basis.

The board of directors of the gallery includes Mary Street Alinder, who was

Ansel Adams's chief of staff and wrote the definitive biography of Adams; and

James Alinder, the author and editor of more than 30 photography books.

Online holiday spending grew 191 percent in 1998. According to Zona Research,

Inc., 61 percent of online buyers expect to spend more money online in 1999.

"It is a perfect time to get involved in the business of online commerce.

Consumers continue to warm to this new way of purchasing, and our gallery

wants to encourage online involvement from the art world," Carter added.

The Ansel Adams auction will be covered by Bid$afe, a service developed by

Auction Universe to increase online security by providing a money back

guarantee for every trade between Bid$afe members -- both buyers and sellers.

Bid$afe members have the security of a transaction intermediary and primary

insurance coverage in case of loss or breakage in the mail. The buyer of each

Ansel Adams photograph will need to be a Bid$afe member to receive the

benefits of the program.

"An online auction contradicts the previous perception of art auction

participants being members of high society," Carter concluded. "We're going to

change that perception."

Auction Universe comprises the http://www.auctionuniverse.com website and a

network of other specialty-focused Web sites and newspapers for buying and

selling. Auction Universe is a Classified Ventures, LLC company.

The collection of Adams' photographs will be on continuous rotating display.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. For information,

212/966-1933.