Palacio do Correio Velho SA

What Palacio do Correio Velho SA does

Palácio do Correio Velho SA (PCV) is a Lisbon-headquartered Portuguese auction house founded in 1989 that conducts live and online auctions of antiques, modern and contemporary art, numismatics, rare books, and collectibles. The firm operates from a registered office at Calçada do Combro in Lisbon and a primary auction venue and warehouse in Carnaxide, hosting both in-person OnLive auctions and timed online sessions with lot counts typically in the 162–360 range. PCV monetizes transactions primarily through a 21.14% buyer's premium on hammer price and seller commissions, supplemented by ancillary fees for cataloguing, CITES and INCM assay certification, restoration, transportation, and storage; an Online Store provides a non-auction direct-sales channel. Its technology stack centers on a proprietary OnLive hybrid auction platform with live streaming, a multilingual website (nine languages), dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications launched in 2021, and an integration with the Invaluable global auction marketplace for international buyer reach. The company serves individual collectors, private sellers and estates, and museums or institutions, with named consignors including Dr. Manuel Fortuna Martins, the Colecção do Barão de Santa Comba Dão, and the Família Figueiredo e Melo Oriol de Pena; it also operates an educational partnership with FCSH – Universidade NOVA de Lisboa for postgraduate training in the art market. Structured as a privately held Sociedade Anónima (S.A.) with no external funding, parent company, or public listing, PCV operates under Portugal's Decree-Law No. 155/2015 legal framework for auctioneers and is GDPR-compliant.

Name

Palacio do Correio Velho SA

Legal name

PALÁCIO DO CORREIO VELHO - LEILÕES E ANTIGUIDADES, S.A.

Website

https://pcv.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Palácio do Correio Velho SA is a Lisbon-based Portuguese auction house founded in 1989 that operates live and online auctions of antiques, modern and contemporary art, numismatics, and collectibles, serving collectors, private estates, and museums through its OnLive platform, mobile apps, and Invaluable integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art and antiques auction services

NAICS

Art Dealers (45992), Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)

SIC

Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)

akta.pro primary industry

Auction Houses (Luxury Watches & Jewelry) (CRAKAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Estate Jewelry & Collection Liquidation Services (CRAKAKAJ), Vintage & Antique Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAE), Coins, Currency & Bullion Collectibles Retail (Numismatics) (CRALAGAF)

Keywords

• Art auction services
• Antique auctions
• Online auctions
• Art valuation
• Numismatic auctions

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Buyer's Premium: PCV charges buyers a premium of 21.14% on hammer price plus applicable taxes. This is the primary revenue stream from auction transactions.
2. Seller's Commission: Sellers pay a commission on sold items based on agreed rates. Additional fees apply for cataloguing, CITES certificates, photography, restoration, insurance, packaging, storage, and transport services.
3. Online Shop / Direct Sales: Direct sales of artworks outside of auction through digital channels and contact network, providing alternative revenue stream outside traditional auction cycles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Palácio do Correio Velho operates live and online auctions of antiques, modern and contemporary art, numismatics, rare books, and collectibles through a hybrid OnLive platform combining in-person bidding at its Carnaxide venue with real-time online and mobile bidding. The company supplements auctions with related services including professional valuation, restoration, transportation, secure storage, and CITES/INCM assay certification for regulated items.

Product overview

Palacio do Correio Velho SA operates a dual-format auction platform combining live/in-person auctions with online auctions, supported by a mobile application. The core offering consists of auction services for antiques, modern and contemporary art, and specialized categories including numismatics, rare books, and collectibles. Supplementary services include valuation, restoration, transportation, storage, and CITES/certification services, with an educational partnership with NOVA University Lisbon. The company also offers a direct online store for artworks sold outside of auction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live & Online Auctions (OnLive and Timed Online) Primary auction service offering in-person live auctions with streaming capabilities and fully online timed auctions across multiple categories including antiques, modern and contemporary art, numismatics, rare books, and collectibles. Open to registered individual collectors, private sellers, estates, and institutions via the website, mobile apps, telephone bidding, and in-person attendance at the Carnaxide venue.
• PCV Mobile Application Mobile application for iOS and Android that enables users to browse auction catalogs, register for auctions, follow sales, bid live, and request artwork valuations from any location worldwide.
• Valuation Services Professional antique and artwork valuation service allowing clients to submit pieces for expert assessment, with a dedicated online valuation form available through the website.
• Restoration Atelier (Conservation and Restoration) Conservation and restoration workshop services for artworks and antiques, helping preserve and restore pieces to their original condition.
• Transportation & Warehouse Services Logistics services including transportation coordination and secure storage facilities for purchased auction items, with pickup available at the Carnaxide facility during working hours (09:00h-13:00h and 14:00h-17:30h).
• CITES & Assay Certificates (INCM Hallmarking and ICNF CITES Documentation) Certification services for precious metals and wildlife-derived products in compliance with Portuguese and international regulations, including INCM hallmarking and ICNF CITES documentation.
• Online Store (Direct Artwork Sales) Direct sales channel for artworks sold outside the auction format, offering pieces through digital channels and contact network as an alternative revenue stream outside traditional auction cycles.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FCSH – Universidade NOVA de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPCV established an educational partnership with FCSH – NOVA University of Lisbon for a Postgraduate program in Art Market and Collectibles. This collaboration aims to produce and disseminate theoretical and practical knowledge in art market sciences, preparing students for careers in galleries, auction houses, antiquarian businesses, public or private art collection management, and museums.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aguttes: Independent French auction house offering fine art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles through live and online formats. Comparable mid-sized European auctioneer competing in the same Iberian-adjacent market and overlapping collector base.
• Dorotheum: Europe's largest traditional auction house headquartered in Vienna, covering art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles through live and online auctions. Closely comparable mid-sized European auction house with similar multi-category catalog and emphasis on European estates.
• Veritas Art Auctioneers: Portuguese auction house offering art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles. Direct domestic peer competing for Portuguese consignments and collectors, operating similar hybrid live/online auction model.
• Cabral Moncada Leilões: Long-established Portuguese auction house in Lisbon specializing in modern and contemporary art, antiques, and decorative arts. Direct Portuguese competitor operating in the same Lisbon-based auction market with overlapping consignment sources and buyer base.

Others

• Invaluable: Online auction aggregator and marketplace that PCV is integrated with for international bidder reach. Comparable as a technology-enabled auction platform serving the same collectibles and art categories, and an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Phillips Auctioneers: Global auction house focused on contemporary art, design, and luxury items, with growing online auction capabilities. Comparable to PCV as an incumbent expanding digital bidding channels in the same high-end art and luxury category.
• Christie's: Global auction house specializing in fine and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles across live and online channels. Comparable to PCV as a category-defining incumbent offering the same hybrid live-plus-online auction experience for high-value lots.
• Bonhams: International auction house with strong European presence across art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles. Comparable to PCV in offering hybrid live/online auctions with multi-category catalog and valuation services.
• Heritage Auctions: US-based auction house operating across collectibles, art, numismatics, rare books, and antiques with strong online bidding infrastructure. Comparable to PCV's multi-category auction model and emphasis on digital/online bidding for collectibles and numismatics.
• Sotheby's: Global luxury auction house offering fine art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles through live and online auctions. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in the same auction-based business model that PCV operates, with significantly broader geographic and category reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/palaciodocorreiovelho
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/12989699
• Instagraminstagram.com/palaciodocorreiovelho/?hl=pt

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Palacio do Correio Velho SA