Posted by Arthur on September 30, 2015, 2:47 pm, in reply to "Results"
"Droit de préemption" is translated in English by "pre-emption right", I think.
It means that the French State buys the item in place of the last bidder, at the price then reached by the auction. The last bidder can not oppose it.
I don´t remember, though, if the State has a pre-determined extension of time to collect the money and pay the required price (otherwise the last bidder finally gets the item).