Summer 2026 Auction

The Stein Auction Company shipping made easy.

The Stein Auction Co. packs and ships everything we sell through LiveAuctioneers. Third party shippers are not normally involved. Only possible exceptions are very large items, such as large stag heads, Lusterweibchen and furniture items. Shipping cost through LA are similar to our reasonable rates.

The Stein Auction Company (TSACO) offers in-house shipping professional packing, and cost-effective transport for all auction items. Shipping costs include FedEx shipping charges materials and labor. TSACO has 45 years of experience. Usually shipping charges will be in the $30 to $50 range per item depending weight, size and zip code. Very large and/or higher value pieces will be somewhat more expensive. We do offer combined shipping discounts for multiple pieces. Insurance: $2.00 per $100 value will be added to the shipping charges. When shipment by U.S.P.S. is requested, the shipping costs will be significantly higher.

EUROPEAN and other EXPORT BUYERS should always select THIRD PARTY SHIPPER or BUYER ARRANGED SHIPPING. This will avoid problems that can occur with the costs of foreign shipping. We will do all foreign shipping at reasonable prices.

Please contact us at: ajandre136@gmail.com



Payments
LiveAuctioneers
Invoices for successful bidders using LiveAuctioneers are emailed the day after the auction. Credit cards, Bank wire and ACH payments are accepted through LiveAuctioneers. PayPal is not accepted. Payment from International bidders is by Bank Wire or ACH only. LivePay is required by LiveAuctioneers.
The Stein Auction Company does NOT accept direct payment from LiveAuctioneers bidders. Payments for lots won by LiveAuctioneers bidders are charged to the credit card on file with LiveAuctioneers using Live Pay, within twenty-four hours of invoices being sent, after the auction has ended.

TSACO
The Stein Auction Company invoices for purchases made by bidding directly with TSACO will be emailed within 48 hours following the auction. Payment instructions will be on the invoice, we accept credit cards, Zelle and cash if pick-up is chosen. For payments made by credit card there will be a 4% administrative fee.
Bank wire payment may be made directly to TSACO. Domestic and International wires incur an additional forty-dollar fee to be added to the invoice. Intentions of wire payment must be emailed to ajandre136@gmail.com within two days PRIOR to the auction.

Sales Tax
Online purchases made on LiveAuctioneers may be subject to sales tax. If you are tax-exempt, you can submit your tax-exempt certificate to LiveAuctioneers, this must be done PRIOR to the auction.


Terms & Conditions
LiveAuctioneers: Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy By submitting bids, you have confirmed that you have read & agree with the Auctioneer's Terms and Conditions as listed here. You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and all fees associated using their platform services.
Bidders may choose to leave absentee bids directly with The Stein Auction Co., a buyer's premium of 20% will apply to these purchases.
Terms and Conditions for TSACO: Bidders must establish an account with The Stein Auction Co. to bid. We must receive an email with your name, mailing address, phone number and a shipping address if it differs from the mailing address.
Bidder approval is at the discretion of The Stein Auction Co. Your absentee bid is a legally binding contract. By bidding with The Stein Auction Co. either directly or through LiveAuctioneers, you agree to abide by the TSACO auction terms and conditions.
1. The auctioneer reserves the right to reopen bidding on a sold lot (under extreme circumstances) TSACO is the sole judge concerning all bids.
2. All auction lots sold are subject to a buyer's premium.
3. Telephone bidding is not offered, no exceptions.
4. Absentee bids can be placed with LiveAuctioneers at any time prior to the sale of the item.
5. When there are identical absentee bids, the earliest bid received takes priority. HOWEVER, it is possible that a LiveAuctioneers bidder could win at the same bid amount you placed directly with TSACO prior to the auction (bids advance based on the set increments, the sequence may not go to you at your maximum bid).
6. Unpaid invoices may be subject to five percent monthly finance charge, after twenty days.
7. Refunds will be given at the sole discretion of TSACO. Only lots that are not authentic, have major damage, or significant restorations or repairs that were not described, will be considered for refunds. Shipping costs are not refundable.
8. These terms and conditions, the respective rights and obligations, shall be governed by and enforced in accordance with the laws of The State of Illinois. The purchaser shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the state courts of Illinois, and the federal courts in Illinois.
We guarantee the merchandise offered in this sale to be free of repairs or damage unless noted in the description of each lot. Please refer to the DEFINITIONS (below and on our Website) for terms used in this catalog for clarification of our terminology. Sizes may be approximate. Should you need additional information about an item in our auction, please contact us. If the condition is found not to be as stated, the item may be returned within one week of receipt, but not later than 30 days after the auction date.

DEFINITIONS for terms used in this catalog
Browning: See staining.
Cameo: A raised decoration that is translucent.
Chip: A piece of missing material, usually around .25? to .5? at the widest point, with some depth. The size can vary.
Crack: An open line in the body, more serious than a hairline.
Crazing: Very fine lines in the glaze that do not go into the material of the body.
Dates: Items that do not have a date in the description can be assumed to be from 1880-1920s. Earlier and later dates will be specified in the description.
Enamel: Painted decoration, usually on glass.
Etched: A decoration that appears to be engraved.
Factory flaw: A visible flaw or defect occurring at the factory when manufactured; not considered damage. We will mention factory flaws when they are visually distracting.
Firing line: A factory flaw, separation of material when fired, generally small, tight lines with minimal depth. We will mention firing lines when they are visually distracting.
Flake: A piece of missing material, usually around .25? at the widest point, with minimal depth.
Fracture: A horizontal line at the top or bottom rim. The line continues through to the inside, forming a chip that has not broken away from the body.
Gasthaus: A bar or inn that serves food.
Glaze flake: A flake that penetrates only the glaze; see flake.
Glaze line: A tight line that appears only in the glaze; it does not go through the body. See crazing.
Good condition: Describing items that due to age or material are not generally mint. Includes factory production flaws and imperfections, normal wear, and minor abrasions and roughness. Better than normal condition for similar steins.
Hairline: A very tight line in the body.
Handpainted: Decoration done by hand, usually with a paint brush.
Hinge: A device, usually pewter, that enables the lid to swivel open on a stein.
Hinge ring: The hinge usually has five or three rings rotating around the hinge pin. Sometimes one ring is missing, usually the center ring in five-ring hinges. Generally the hinge ring will still operate without difficulty.
Incised: A decoration that has been or appears to be engraved.
Inlaid lid: A pewter (or metal) rim containing a ceramic, stoneware, pottery, porcelain or glass insert.
Light wear: Wear to the colors caused by use. Visible, but not very distracting.
Lithophane: Transparent porcelain scene in base of many porcelain steins.
Lithophane lines: Tight lines frequently found in lithophanes, generally not distracting.
Minor paint flakes: Very small flakes, less than 1/16? at the widest point, minimal depth.
Minor pewter repair: A well-executed repair to a small area, such as a tear on the handle strap.
Minor pewter tear: A tear that has not harmed the structural strength of the lid.
Minor scratches: Visible scratches, noticeable, but not very distracting.
Mint: In the same condition as it left the factory, with no more than normal indications of wear and with no seriously distracting factory flaws. Steins with pewter inscriptions are considered mint. Normal wear can be expected and will be described if we feel that it is distracting. If you need further clarification about the precise condition of an item, please contact our office.
Mkd.: Marked.
Paint flakes: A flake that penetrates only the paint; see glaze flake.
Pewter lid: Most common type of lid, made primarily from tin.
Pewter tear: Usually located where the lid attaches to the tang (rear of the lid); tears here are very common, frequently they are visible but not a structural problem.
Print-over-glaze: A transfer decoration fired over the glaze.
Probe: A mark found on Mettlach wares. Factory proof or sample. Sometimes found on items that were not put into production. Also found as just the letter ?P.?
P.U.G.: Print under glaze, similar to transfer.
Rare: Used to describe some Mettlach, Character and Regimental steins. Only a small number are known to exist, generally ten or less. When used to describe other types of steins, less than five are generally known to exist.
Relief: A raised decoration.
Scuffs: Minor scratches or wear on handle or base caused by normal use. Commonly found on glass or glazed surfaces.
Shank: The pewter running from the handle to the hinge.
Staining: A discoloration from use or over-firing. Often called browning when found on the inside of Mettlach steins. Will be mentioned in descriptions if we consider it distracting.
Strap: The pewter band that wraps around the stein handle.
Strap repaired: The pewter strap around the handle has been repaired by a pewter smith. This usually occurs because the strap has become loose. Properly done, this type of repair is usually not detectable. If not otherwise described, these repairs can be assumed to be of excellent quality.
Tang: The pewter running from the hinge to the lid.
Threading: Thin raised lines that create a scene or design.
Transfer: An applied decal type of decoration.
Unusual: An item or style that is not normally found.
Very good condition: Describing items that cannot generally be described as mint. This would include early faience and stoneware as well as items made from materials that are usually subject to more than slight wear. No serious damage, close to mint.
Very rare: Very few known. For Mettlach, less than five, for Characters and Regimentals, one or two.