39 years HBA
over 1/3 century continuity
When the company was entered in the Hamburg Commercial Register under number A 79021 in April 1983, none of the young founders of HBA was aware of the importance this company would enjoy 38 years later in philately and numismatics worldwide.
Even today, we, the "fathers" of HBA, the brothers Hubert and Thomas Ehrengut, are the personally liable partners of a company that is still owner-managed without any outside influence. Today, we still stand by the legal form of a general partnership, which guarantees our business partners, be they bidders or consignors, security and solvency through our personal liability.
This continuity in the ownership of our family business with short and clear decision-making processes has characterized the development of HBA from then until today.
If the 1st auction in October 1983 with a total turnover of DM 390.000,--* was still quite restrained, but already promising, 17 years later in the famous 36th auction in October 2000 more than DM 10.000.000,--* were achieved, one of the most legendary auctions in the history of stamp and coin auctions worldwide. Today, HBA belongs to the small group of market leaders in the international auction business with worldwide connections.
With our headquarters in Hamburg's City Süd, we decided even then on a location which, after the reunification of Germany, became a hub for international trade, as close to the boom market of Great Britain as to the traditional "collector countries" in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. The enormously growing importance of the Eastern European countries, from Poland to Russia to Slovenia, is particularly noticeable in Hamburg, not only in the ever-growing port of Hamburg, but also in the wallets of our consignors, who benefit especially from our optimal location.
With over 1000 sqm of office space, our own auction room, modern equipment and a dedicated team, we continuously try to put our customers at the center of our decisions. After 38 years we are happy about our customers who have been sitting in our 1st row since the 1st auction.
Almost 80 exciting and successful auctions, in which we were able to sell the famous collections of the most important philatelists from Hans Bothe to Karl Kniep and Eduard Peschl, are an incentive for us to continue to do something special for you in the future.
We would be pleased if you would continue to accompany us on this path.
Your Ehrengut Brothers