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Terms of service


Terms of Service

Last updated: August 2, 2026

Overview

Welcome to Rarelight Archives. The terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Rarelight Archives.

Rarelight Archives operates this website and online store, including the related information, articles, photographs, features, products, and services offered through it collectively, the “Services.” Rarelight Archives is powered by Shopify, which enables us to provide the Services to you.

These Terms of Service, together with the policies referenced in them, describe your rights and responsibilities when you access or use the Services.

Please read these Terms carefully. They contain important information concerning orders, historical objects, intellectual property, warranty disclaimers, and limitations of liability.

By visiting, interacting with, purchasing from, or otherwise using the Services, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use the Services.

Section 1 — Eligibility, access, and accounts

By using the Services, you represent that you are at least the age of majority in your state, province, or country of residence, or that you are using the Services with the permission and supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

You may be asked to provide information including your name, email address, billing information, payment information, and shipping address. You represent that the information you provide is accurate, current, and complete and that you are authorized to provide and use it.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any account credentials and for activity conducted through your account. You may not sell, assign, transfer, or license your account to another person.

We may restrict, suspend, or terminate access to the Services if we reasonably believe an account is being used unlawfully, fraudulently, or in violation of these Terms.

Section 2 — Historical objects and product descriptions

Rarelight Archives sells historical documents, photographs, prints, books, postcards, artwork, and other forms of ephemera and collectible material. Most objects are unique, old, previously owned, and subject to the effects of age, storage, handling, and use.

We make reasonable efforts to provide accurate photographs, measurements, dates, descriptions, condition reports, and research. Historical objects may nevertheless contain:

  • Toning, foxing, fading, stains, folds, tears, creases, edge wear, surface marks, inscriptions, residue, missing portions, or other evidence of age;

  • Handwriting, names, dates, locations, or printing that cannot be identified with certainty;

  • Dates, makers, subjects, origins, or historical associations described as approximate, attributed, probable, possible, or unknown; and

  • Translations, transcriptions, interpretations, or research conclusions that may be incomplete or subject to revision as additional information becomes available.

Terms such as “antique,” “vintage,” “circa,” “attributed to,” “believed to be,” and similar language should be understood according to their ordinary historical and collecting usage and do not constitute guarantees beyond the information expressly stated in the listing.

Condition is evaluated relative to an object’s age and type. Age-related wear that is shown in photographs or disclosed in the description is not a defect.

Colors, scale, contrast, and appearance may vary depending on lighting, photography, screen settings, and the device used to view the Services. Images may be enlarged to show detail and may not represent actual size.

Customers should review the complete listing, including all photographs and condition information, before purchasing. Questions are welcome before an order is placed.

We may correct or expand a product description, but changes will not alter a completed purchase without notice to the customer.

Section 3 — Availability and one-of-a-kind inventory

Most Rarelight Archives objects are one of a kind and available in a quantity of one.

Inventory may also be offered through third-party marketplaces. Although we use reasonable measures to keep availability synchronized, an object may occasionally sell through another channel before our website updates.

If an unavailable object is purchased, we will cancel the affected order and refund the amount paid for that object. This will be the customer’s sole remedy for an item that is no longer available before fulfillment.

We reserve the right to discontinue, withdraw, or limit the sale of any object at any time before accepting an order.

Section 4 — Orders

Submitting an order constitutes an offer to purchase. An automated order confirmation acknowledges that we received the order but does not necessarily constitute final acceptance.

We may accept, decline, hold, or cancel an order for legitimate reasons, including:

  • An item is unavailable;

  • Pricing or listing information contains a material error;

  • Payment cannot be verified or authorized;

  • The order presents a suspected fraud or security risk;

  • The shipping address is incomplete or unsupported;

  • The item cannot legally or safely be shipped to the destination; or

  • Fulfilling the order would violate applicable law or a platform requirement.

If we cancel an order after payment has been processed, we will refund the canceled amount to the original payment method.

Please review your order and shipping address carefully before submitting it. Cancellation requests are governed by our Refund Policy and may not be possible after an order has been packed or shipped.

Purchases are subject to our Refund Policy, Shipping Policy, and Privacy Policy, each of which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

You may purchase objects for personal, scholarly, institutional, decorative, collecting, or lawful resale purposes. Purchasing an object does not transfer copyright or other intellectual-property rights in the object, its image, our description, or our research unless expressly agreed in writing.

Section 5 — Prices, taxes, and payment

Prices, promotions, and availability may change without notice. The price charged will be the price shown when the order is submitted, subject to correction of obvious or material errors.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, product prices do not include shipping charges, taxes, customs duties, brokerage fees, import charges, or other destination-based fees.

You are responsible for providing accurate billing and payment information and for using only payment methods you are authorized to use.

Orders shipped internationally may be subject to customs duties, taxes, inspections, restrictions, or fees imposed by the destination country. Unless required otherwise by applicable law or expressly stated during checkout, the recipient is responsible for those charges.

Section 6 — Shipping and delivery

Shipping methods, handling practices, estimated delivery times, insurance, tracking, and related terms are described in our Shipping Policy.

Delivery dates are estimates, not guarantees. Delays may occur because of carrier operations, weather, customs processing, transportation disruptions, incorrect addresses, or circumstances outside our reasonable control.

We are responsible for packing objects with reasonable care appropriate to their nature and condition. Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate delivery address and for retrieving or accepting packages when required.

Please contact us promptly if tracking indicates a delivery problem, a shipment appears lost, or a package arrives damaged. Claims involving loss or damage may require photographs, retention of all packaging, cooperation with the carrier, or completion of the carrier’s claim process.

Nothing in this section limits rights that cannot legally be waived.

Section 7 — Returns, refunds, and cancellations

Because Rarelight Archives sells unique and frequently fragile historical objects, sales are generally final except as described in our Refund Policy or required by applicable law.

Our Refund Policy explains:

  • When an order may be canceled;

  • How to report an incorrect, damaged, or materially misdescribed item;

  • Deadlines and documentation requirements;

  • Circumstances in which a return may be authorized; and

  • How approved refunds are processed.

Do not return an object without written authorization. Unauthorized returns may be refused.

Nothing in these Terms or our Refund Policy limits mandatory consumer rights that apply in the customer’s jurisdiction.

Section 8 — Research and editorial content

Rarelight Archives may publish articles, biographies, transcriptions, translations, timelines, annotations, provenance research, and other historical or educational material.

This content is provided for general informational, educational, and editorial purposes. Historical research is inherently interpretive and may rely on incomplete, contradictory, incorrectly indexed, or newly discovered sources.

Although we strive for accuracy and distinguish established facts from informed interpretation where practicable, we do not warrant that every historical conclusion, identification, date, translation, transcription, or attribution is complete or error-free.

Our content is not legal, genealogical, appraisal, authentication, financial, medical, or other professional advice.

We welcome good-faith corrections and additional documentation.

Section 9 — Intellectual property

The Rarelight Archives website, branding, logo, slogan, layout, original writing, product descriptions, research, photography, graphics, videos, audio, and other original content are owned by Rarelight Archives or used with permission and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

You may use the Services for personal, non-commercial browsing, purchasing, research, and reference.

Without our prior written permission, you may not reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, license, scrape, compile, modify, or commercially exploit our original website content, product photography, descriptions, or research.

You may share a limited excerpt or individual image for non-commercial commentary, scholarship, teaching, criticism, or social-media discussion when legally permitted, provided that you credit Rarelight Archives and do not remove watermarks or misrepresent the source.

Historical objects offered for sale may themselves contain public-domain, copyrighted, trademarked, or otherwise protected material. Our ownership of a physical object does not necessarily mean that we own copyright in the underlying historical work. Likewise, purchasing a physical object transfers ownership of that object but does not automatically transfer copyright, reproduction, publicity, trademark, or other intellectual-property rights.

“Rarelight Archives,” the Rarelight Archives logo, History, found in the margins, and our other source-identifying names or designs may not be used in a manner that suggests sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement without permission.

Shopify’s names, logos, products, and service marks belong to Shopify or its licensors.

All rights not expressly granted are reserved.

Section 10 — Optional tools and third-party services

The Services may provide access to tools, applications, payment processors, shipping services, embedded features, or other services operated by third parties.

We do not control all aspects of those third-party services. Their use may be governed by separate terms and privacy policies.

We provide access to optional third-party tools on an “as available” basis and are not responsible for a third party’s independent acts, omissions, availability, security, or policies except to the extent required by law.

Section 11 — Third-party links

The Services may include links to archival repositories, databases, libraries, historical resources, social-media services, marketplaces, or other third-party websites.

Links are provided for convenience or reference and do not necessarily constitute endorsement. We are not responsible for the accuracy, content, security, availability, or practices of third-party websites.

Any interaction or transaction with a third party is between you and that third party and is governed by its applicable terms and policies.

Section 12 — Relationship with Shopify

Rarelight Archives is powered by Shopify, which enables us to provide the Services to you. However, any sales and purchases you make in our store are made directly with Rarelight Archives.

By using the Services, you acknowledge and agree that Shopify is not responsible for any aspect of any sale between you and Rarelight Archives, including any injury, damage, or loss resulting from purchased products and services.

You expressly release Shopify and its affiliates from claims, damages, and liabilities arising from or related to your purchases and transactions with Rarelight Archives, except to the extent such a release is prohibited by applicable law.

Section 13 — Privacy

Personal information collected through the Services is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

Because Shopify hosts the Services, Shopify and service providers supporting checkout, payments, fraud prevention, shipping, analytics, communications, and store operations may collect or process information necessary to provide those functions.

Information may be processed in countries other than the country in which you reside, subject to applicable privacy laws and contractual protections.

Please review our Privacy Policy and Shopify’s applicable consumer privacy information for further details.

Section 14 — Reviews, corrections, and submitted material

You may choose to submit reviews, corrections, historical information, photographs, documents, comments, suggestions, or other material, collectively “Submitted Material.”

You retain ownership of any rights you hold in Submitted Material. By submitting it for publication or use, you grant Rarelight Archives a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to store, reproduce, edit for length or formatting, publish, display, and distribute it in connection with operating, improving, documenting, and promoting Rarelight Archives.

This license does not authorize us to sell ownership of your original physical materials unless separately agreed.

You represent that:

  • You have the right to provide the Submitted Material;

  • Its use as contemplated does not violate another person’s rights;

  • It is accurate to the best of your knowledge;

  • You have disclosed any compensation or incentive associated with a review; and

  • It does not contain unlawful, defamatory, threatening, malicious, or harmful content.

We may decline, edit, remove, or choose not to respond to Submitted Material. We are not required to keep unsolicited material confidential.

Section 15 — Errors and corrections

The Services may occasionally contain typographical errors, incorrect prices, inventory discrepancies, incomplete information, or other inaccuracies.

We may correct information, update listings, or cancel an affected order when a material error is discovered, including after an order has been submitted.

When an order is canceled because of our material error, we will refund the amount paid for the canceled portion.

Section 16 — Prohibited uses

You may use the Services only for lawful purposes.

You may not use the Services to:

  • Violate applicable law or another person’s rights;

  • Commit fraud or submit false payment, identity, or shipping information;

  • Introduce malware or interfere with the operation or security of the Services;

  • Harass, threaten, defame, abuse, or impersonate another person;

  • Collect personal information about others unlawfully;

  • Send spam or unauthorized solicitations;

  • Circumvent access controls, checkout controls, or security measures;

  • Reproduce or commercially exploit our original content without authorization;

  • Use automated tools in a manner that places an unreasonable burden on the Services, evades technical restrictions, or violates applicable law; or

  • Use Rarelight Archives content or branding to falsely imply affiliation, endorsement, provenance, or authentication.

Ordinary search-engine indexing and accessibility tools used in accordance with published technical instructions are not prohibited.

We may restrict or terminate access when we reasonably determine that these Terms have been violated.

Section 17 — Termination

You may stop using the Services at any time.

We may suspend or terminate access to all or part of the Services if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent or unlawful activity, threaten the security of the Services, or create material risk or liability.

Termination does not eliminate payment obligations or other liabilities incurred before termination.

Provisions concerning intellectual property, Submitted Material, disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, governing law, and any other terms that by their nature should survive will remain in effect.

Section 18 — Disclaimer of warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

Except for representations expressly made in an individual product listing or rights that cannot legally be excluded, we disclaim express and implied warranties concerning the Services and products, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, durability, title, and non-infringement.

We do not guarantee that:

  • The Services will always be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free;

  • Every historical identification, interpretation, translation, attribution, or research conclusion will be complete or correct;

  • An object will satisfy an unstated collecting, investment, decorative, archival, or research purpose; or

  • Colors and appearance displayed on a screen will precisely match the physical object.

Some jurisdictions do not permit certain warranty exclusions, so some of these exclusions may not apply to you.

Section 19 — Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Rarelight Archives and its owners, employees, contractors, service providers, and licensors will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential losses arising from the Services or a purchase, including lost profits, lost revenue, loss of data, loss of opportunity, or replacement costs.

Where liability cannot be excluded, our aggregate liability arising from a particular order will not exceed the amount paid to Rarelight Archives for that order, except where a different limitation is required by law.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for fraud, intentional misconduct, gross negligence, personal injury caused by negligence where such liability cannot be excluded, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

Section 20 — Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Rarelight Archives, Shopify, and their respective owners, affiliates, officers, employees, contractors, licensors, and service providers from third-party claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and reasonable legal costs arising from:

  • Your material breach of these Terms;

  • Your unlawful use of the Services;

  • Your infringement of another person’s rights; or

  • Submitted Material you provide.

We will provide reasonable notice of an indemnifiable claim and may control its defense and settlement. You agree to provide reasonable cooperation.

Section 21 — Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, it will be enforced to the greatest extent permitted and severed only to the extent necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue in effect.

Section 22 — Waiver and entire agreement

A failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of that provision or any other right.

These Terms and the policies incorporated by reference constitute the entire agreement concerning use of the Services and purchases through the Services, except for any separate written agreement signed by Rarelight Archives.

Section 23 — Assignment

You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent.

We may assign these Terms in connection with a sale, transfer, reorganization, or continuation of the business, subject to applicable law.

Section 24 — Governing law

These Terms and transactions with Rarelight Archives are governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Subject to any mandatory consumer rights or venue rules that apply, disputes will be brought in the state or federal courts serving Multnomah County, Oregon, and the parties consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.

Section 25 — Changes to these Terms

The current version of these Terms will be available on this page.

We may update these Terms to reflect changes in the Services, our practices, platform requirements, or applicable law. Material changes will take effect on the date stated in the updated Terms or in any notice required by law.

Changes will not retroactively alter the terms applicable to a completed purchase unless required by law or agreed by the customer.

Section 26 — Contact information

Questions about these Terms may be sent to:

Rarelight Archives
Email: terms@rarelightarchives.com
Phone: 503-218-3851
Business address: Portland OR 97209