February 10, 2009Absolute Auction

Neal Auction

Selling Regardless of Price

The Spanish Custom House1300 Moss St., New Orleans, Louisiana

Auctioneers and Appraisers of Antiques and Fine Art- Broker: Dorian Bennett Realty -

The Spanish Custom House is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in New Orleans and is one of the few surviving

residences from the Spanish Colonial Period in the South. Built by 1784, at the corner of Moss and Grand Route St. John,

the Spanish Custom House is the oldest structure still standing in the historic Bayou St. John neighborhood.

Consisting of

18-inch thick walls, the elegant

interior features brick and slate

flagging downstairs and hard wood

upstairs. Throughout the home,

original detailing remains intact

and preserved.

High and

dry, the Spanish Custom

House is securely located

along the historic

Esplanade Ridge. The

home has never flooded.

www.nealauction.com 504.899.5329 • 1.800.467.5329

No MinimumNo Reserve

The historic Spanish Custom House is Colonial in design with a double gallery across the front featuring Doric

columns below and turned wood colonettes above. The distinctive double pitched slate roof is pierced by two dormers and a

single chimney which serves the interior fireplaces.

The Spanish Custom House

The rear of the

house features an elegant

and spacious addition—likely

commissioned by former owner,

author, and socialite Helen Pitkin

Schertz between 1909 and

1935—which is accentuated by

enormous windows and two 12

foot tall, double hung Spanish

wrought iron doors.

Situated on extensive grounds

along the banks of the bayou and part of

the concession granted to settlers in 1708,

the property includes the original two storied

edifice, a large two room slave quarter, and the

original carriage house.

Auction Information

H

PROPERTY TOURSAn auction representative will be available onsite beginning January 31, 2009 through auction day, from 10:00AM CST to 2:00PM CST.

PROPERTY INFORMATION PACKAGEAn extensive Property Information Package (PIP) has been prepared to assist the buyers in evaluating this property. The PIP will be available by request.

BUYER’S PREMIUMA ten-percent (10%) Buyer’s Premium will be added to the high bid price to arrive at the total contract price paid by the purchaser.

Please contact Michelle LeBlanc Leckert or Bettine Carroll at Neal Auction at 800-467-5329 or 504-899-5329 or Dorian Bennett at Dorian Bennett Realty at 504-966-3605 for further details regarding the auction and the property.

AUCTION REGISTRATIONA cashier’s check in the amount of $50,000 made payable to the bidder, or a personal or company check accompanied by a Bank Letter of Guaranty will be required to register to bid. The required cashier’s check or bank guaranteed check will be held by Neal Auction until close of auction. Checks will be returned to unsuccessful bidders only after auction is completed. Registration begins at 9:00AM CST. The sale begins at 12:00NOON CST. The auction will take place at the home, located at 1300 Moss Street, New Orleans, LA, 70119

BUYER’S INCENTIVEA Buyer’s opening bid incentive is available to bidders who register according to the Buyer Incentive Guidelines. Forms are available from Neal Auction. Forms must be completed and returned to Neal Auction no later than 48 hours prior to the auction.

BROKER PARTICIPATIONBroker participation is invited and welcomed. Up to a 3% commission will be paid to any licensed buyer’s Broker who registers a successful buyer according to the Broker Participation Guidelines. Broker registration forms are available from Neal Auction. Forms must be completed and returned to Neal Auction no later than 48 hours prior to the auction.

TERMSA ten-percent (10%) down payment will be due immediately after being declared the buyer. The balance is due in cash at closing within 30 days.

DIRECTIONS TO THE PROPERTYFrom Interstate 10: Take EXIT 231A toward METAIRIE RD/CITY PARK AVE. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto PONTCHARTRAIN BLVD. Turn LEFT onto CITY PARK AVE/METAIRIE RD. Continue to follow CITY PARK AVE. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto N CARROLLTON AVE/CITY PARK AVE. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto ESPLANADE AVE/LELONG DR. Continue to follow ESPLANADE AVE. Turn RIGHT onto E MOSS ST.

DISCLAIMER: All information provided for this auction is believed to be correct but cannot be guaranteed. The buyer and buyer’s agent bears the responsibility for verification of any and all specifics. The seller and Neal Auction maintain the right to deny access to the auction site to anyone on auction day or prior. Neal Auction will in no way be responsible or assume any liability if the seller does not honor any bid or, for any reason, refuses to, or is unable to close title with the high bidder or perform any other contractual agreement entered into with a buyer. The seller has the right to withdraw the property, delay or cancel the auction, or sell the property prior to the auction. A 10% buyer’s premium will be added to the winning bid price/hammer price to arrive at the total purchase price. No printed or digital materials used in conjunction with this auction may be duplicated without written permission from Neal Auction. All property lines, square footage amounts, history, etc. are based upon information provided by the seller and are believed to be correct; however, purchaser and/or purchaser’s agent/broker shall bear the responsibility to confirm all information prior to the auction. Not available to residents of any state in which this real estate is not in compliance with the real estate laws of that state. Announcements made at the auction supersede all printed material. Real Estate: Dorian Bennett Realty 504-944-3605, Neal Auction Company. LA Auction #AB-107, Alford #797, LeBlanc #1514. 10% buyers premium.

www.nealauction.com • 504.899.5329 • 1.800.467.5329

February 10, 2009Absolute Auction

The Spanish Custom House

PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID

New Orleans, LAPermit No. 1167

Neal Auction Company, Inc.4038 Magazine Street • New Orleans • LA 70115504-899-5329 • 800-467-5329 • fax 504-897-3808

By some accounts, the Spanish

Custom House received its name

during the Spanish regime when

tradesmen bringing their wares down

the Mississippi and through Lake

Pontchartrain were required to pay

tolls to the Spanish official inhabiting

the home. Another account maintains

that the name, instead, stems from

construction materials salvaged from a

Spanish Custom House that once stood

where the U.S. Custom House stands

at Canal Street and Decatur. According

to renowned author and architectural

historian, Samuel Wilson, Jr., the origin of the name most

likely derives from the Fortin-Blanque ownership of the early

1800s, in which “Blanque was probably the Louis Blanc

appointed by the Orleans Navigation

Company to collect tolls ‘on every

vessel whatever, coming from Lake

Pontchartrain into the said Bayou…’”

Aside from the romantic lore

surrounding the origin of its name, The

Spanish Custom House is, itself, “of

exceptional architectural interest and

importance.”

In 1957, the Spanish

Custom House was designated an

Orleans Parish Landmark and in 1984, a

New Orleans Historic District Landmark.

The Spanish Custom House Absolute Auction

represents an historic moment and a compelling opportunity

for interested buyers.