Terms of service

Relic & Rarity Terms of Sale

Purchase Terms

By purchasing an item from Relic & Rarity, you agree to the following terms and conditions.

1. Authenticity Guarantee

Relic & Rarity unconditionally guarantees that every object offered for sale is an authentic antique, artifact, work of art, or historical object, accurately described to the best of our knowledge and professional expertise at the time of cataloguing.

If an item is conclusively determined to be not authentic or materially misrepresented as to its age, origin, culture, maker, or attribution, Relic & Rarity will accept the return of the item and refund the original purchase price, subject to the conditions set out below.

This authenticity guarantee applies solely to the original purchaser and is non-transferable. No claim may be assigned to any subsequent owner, heir, consignee, dealer, or purchaser through resale.

2. Authenticity Claims & Returns

Returns based upon authenticity or material misrepresentation will only be accepted under the following conditions:

  • Written notice must be provided to Relic & Rarity within fifteen (15) days of the purchaser first discovering the alleged discrepancy.
  • The purchaser must provide supporting evidence, including any laboratory analysis, scientific testing, expert reports, or written opinions from recognized specialists qualified in the relevant field.
  • Relic & Rarity reserves the right to review all submitted evidence and obtain additional independent expert opinions before making a determination.
  • The item must be returned in the identical condition in which it was originally sold, without restoration, cleaning, conservation, repair, testing that causes damage, alteration, or modification of any kind.
  • The original invoice, Certificate of Authenticity (where applicable), and all accompanying documentation must be returned with the object.

No refund shall be issued until the object has been physically returned, inspected, and the authenticity claim has been confirmed by Relic & Rarity.

Relic & Rarity reserves the right to rely upon the opinions of multiple recognized experts or independent laboratories before determining whether an object has been materially misrepresented. A single conflicting opinion shall not, by itself, constitute conclusive evidence of lack of authenticity or misrepresentation.

3. Customer Satisfaction Returns

Because every object offered by Relic & Rarity is unique, historical, and often one-of-a-kind, returns unrelated to authenticity or material misrepresentation are accepted solely as a customer courtesy.

Items may be returned within seven (7) days of delivery for store credit only, provided that:

  • the item is returned in its original condition;
  • all original documentation accompanies the item;
  • the item has not been altered, restored, repaired, cleaned, displayed in a manner causing damage, or otherwise modified.

Store credit will be issued for the original purchase price and is non-refundable, non-transferable, and may only be redeemed by the original purchaser.

Special orders, commissioned work, custom-framed items, clearance items, and items designated as final sale are not eligible for customer satisfaction returns.

4. Shipping & Transit

Relic & Rarity professionally packs every object using museum-grade archival packing materials designed for international transport.

Shipping is performed by independent third-party carriers. While every reasonable precaution is taken, Relic & Rarity cannot guarantee carrier performance and shall not be liable for delays, loss, theft, customs inspections, or damage occurring during transit.

If an item arrives damaged, the purchaser must notify Relic & Rarity within two (2) calendar days of delivery and provide:

  • photographs of the unopened package;
  • photographs of all packaging materials;
  • photographs of the shipping label;
  • clear photographs showing the damage; and
  • a written description of the damage.

Failure to report shipping damage within this period may prejudice any insurance claim and may limit available remedies.

Relic & Rarity will assist purchasers in submitting insurance or carrier claims where applicable but cannot guarantee the outcome of claims administered by third-party shipping carriers.

5. Export & Import Regulations

Relic & Rarity guarantees the lawful export of all objects from Canada in accordance with applicable Canadian legislation.

Buyers are solely responsible for determining whether purchased objects may legally be imported, possessed, displayed, transported, resold, or transferred within their country, province, state, or jurisdiction.

Buyers are also responsible for:

  • customs duties;
  • import taxes;
  • brokerage fees;
  • permits;
  • cultural property requirements; and
  • compliance with all applicable local laws.

Because import regulations vary significantly between jurisdictions, Relic & Rarity cannot provide legal advice regarding foreign import requirements.

Customs authorities retain sole discretion regarding admissibility of imported goods. Relic & Rarity shall not be liable for customs delays, inspections, storage fees, refusals, confiscations, or seizures resulting from the laws or decisions of importing jurisdictions.

6. Returned Shipments & Refused Deliveries

Customers are responsible for providing accurate shipping information and ensuring they are available to receive shipments requiring delivery confirmation or signature.

If a shipment is returned due to any of the following:

  • refusal of delivery;
  • failure to collect the shipment;
  • failure to pay customs duties, taxes, brokerage fees, or import charges;
  • failure to provide requested customs documentation;
  • missed delivery attempts;
  • incorrect shipping information supplied by the purchaser; or
  • any circumstance beyond Relic & Rarity's reasonable control that results in the shipment being returned,

the order shall be deemed a voluntary cancellation by the purchaser.

Upon return, the object will be inspected to ensure it remains in its original condition.

Subject to satisfactory inspection, a refund of up to fifty percent (50%) of the purchase price may be issued.

The remaining amount shall be retained to offset:

  • outbound shipping;
  • return shipping;
  • insurance;
  • customs charges;
  • payment processing fees;
  • administrative costs;
  • inventory handling;
  • restocking expenses;
  • market exposure losses; and
  • other reasonable costs incurred by Relic & Rarity.

Original shipping charges, customs duties, brokerage fees, taxes, insurance premiums, and carrier charges are non-refundable.

Relic & Rarity reserves the right to deduct any additional expenses incurred before calculating any refund.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Relic & Rarity's maximum liability arising from any purchase shall not exceed the original purchase price paid for the object.

Relic & Rarity shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary, special, or economic damages, including loss of profits, loss of investment, loss of business opportunities, loss of value, or emotional distress.

8. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

Any dispute arising from these Terms or any transaction with Relic & Rarity shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario, Canada.

9. Condition & Age-Related Wear

All objects sold by Relic & Rarity are historical objects and should be expected to display wear, repairs, restoration, surface irregularities, patina, oxidation, discoloration, losses, and imperfections consistent with their age, historical use, and preservation.

Such characteristics are not defects but are considered inherent features contributing to the object's authenticity and historical significance.

Condition descriptions are provided to the best of our knowledge. Buyers are encouraged to carefully review all photographs and request additional information prior to purchase.

10. Scholarly Opinion, Attribution & Dating

Descriptions regarding attribution, cultural origin, historical period, age, maker, authorship, school, workshop, dynasty, region, or historical significance reflect the informed professional opinion of Relic & Rarity and any specialists consulted at the time of cataloguing.

The study of antiquities, works of art, and historical artifacts is an evolving academic discipline. New archaeological discoveries, scientific advances, conservation research, and scholarly publications may result in revised opinions regarding attribution, dating, cultural origin, historical context, or maker.

Accordingly, differences of scholarly opinion, revised academic consensus, changes in attribution or dating, subsequent scientific analysis, or newly published research shall not, by themselves, constitute evidence of misrepresentation, lack of authenticity, or grounds for cancellation, return, refund, or damages.

Only a material misrepresentation of authenticity, age, origin, or attribution, as determined in accordance with the Authenticity Guarantee and Authenticity Claims & Returns provisions of these Terms, shall give rise to any remedy.

11. Cultural Property & Provenance

Relic & Rarity is committed to the responsible stewardship of historical artifacts and cultural property.

To the best of our knowledge, every object offered for sale has been lawfully acquired and exported in accordance with applicable laws.

Where available, provenance, ownership history, exhibition history, publication references, laboratory reports, or prior sales records are included within item descriptions.

Due to the age and historical nature of many objects, complete ownership histories may not always exist or survive.

Buyers acknowledge that future scholarly research, ownership claims, repatriation discussions, legislative changes, or revisions to cultural property policies do not, by themselves, establish that an object was improperly acquired or materially misrepresented at the time of sale.

Customer Commitment

At Relic & Rarity, we are dedicated to providing collectors, museums, institutions, and historical enthusiasts with exceptional service and authentic historical objects.

With thousands of satisfied clients worldwide, we are committed to scholarship, transparency, ethical collecting, and professional integrity. Every object is carefully researched, professionally catalogued, and handled with respect for its historical significance, ensuring each transaction is conducted with the highest standards of expertise, care, and confidence.