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➡️𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻.When you introduce something new, it has to hit the mark right away. And what better showcase than a world-renowned loft like Tom Van Gaver? Right now, his pigeons are among the most sought-after internationally.
The public auctions of the past… pure nostalgia today. Many look back on them with fondness. Up until about 20 years ago, live auctions were true winter attractions. Fanciers in search of reinforcements flocked to them. You could personally inspect the pigeons in advance, handle them, and decide whether or not to take your chance (read: bid) in the auction hall. For others, it was simply a winter pastime: checking out competitors’ pigeons, chatting about the sport with friends, or networking with fellow fanciers before and after the sale. And more often than not, you went home with a pigeon (or two) of your own.
With the rise of online auctions, however, these public sales quickly faded into the background—almost vanishing altogether. As an interested buyer, you now rely on photos of the pigeons, alongside eye photos… later supplemented by evaluation reports and videos of the birds on offer. All useful tools to form an impression of what’s for sale. The bidding itself takes place via computer or smartphone.
With the new hybrid auction concept, both worlds are now united in one sale. A hybrid auction combines a live, public auction with simultaneous online bidding—just like in a traditional internet auction. A technological feat developed by the PIPA IT team, it will be put to the test for the very first time during the Tom Van Gaver Hybrid Auction on February 8, 2026.
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