Argo44,
I've always found the folks at Holts' to be very helpful. When I have offered information on provenance, they have been welcoming.
If my understanding of their process is correct, the people you're corresponding with don't have access to the 'sealed bid' items until
the main sale has been completed. Then it's a 'dash to the finish' -- hundreds of guns to prepare for sale and no shortage of 'condition
requests' requiring responses.