>> Welcome to Mississippi Antique Showcase.

In this episode, we're in Biloxi, Mississippi, with our expert appraisers to look at your rare finds, family heirlooms, and your quirky collectibles.

We'll see what we can learn about these unique treasures and of course, see what they might be worth.

>> $25.

>> Okay, mm-hmm.

>> Thank you so much for coming today, and welcome to MPB's Antique Showcase.

This such a lovely vest you brought in.

And I just want you to tell the audience a little bit about it.

>> Well, my grandfather acquired this vest when he was stationed in Romania during World War II.

And it's just one of the many items that he brought back from Romania.

It's been in our family ever since.

>> There's a specific Romanian word.

It's called Pitaya.

And that is what this vest is.

And there's generally two types of these vests that were made.

One is like this one, an open vest, so you can actually open it.

And one is a closed vest and put it on over your head.

But both, ethnically, have a deep symbolic meaning within the Romanian region, which there are seven regions in Romania.

I believe this could have come from two of them.

One being Transylvania and the other being pronunciation called "Wash" spelled O-A-S.

This to me, probably one of the more vibrant vests that I've seen as far as intricate nature.

These days, it kind of moved out of fashion in the 20th century, but ethnically, you can still see some of these vests worn in more remote regions of Romania or for special occasions, and they're often reproduced now, but they are a lot more plain.

But even the newer reproduced versions generally run $500 to $700 there.

This one though, you can tell it's period.

And it came from the probably the Victorian period.

So the later half of the 19th century.

So anywhere from 1880 to maybe even 1910 at the latest.

But this is probably the second one I've seen in person, and the most intricate design that I've probably seen.

They would probably have a lot of money.

You can actually tell the details here of some colored shells, which you don't often see it embroidered along the chest plate here.

And it would have been worn on many special occasions or even everyday wear.

But given how intricate this is, weddings, etc., events of that nature.

So it's a really special piece.

How much do you think it may be worth?

>> I have no earthly idea.

>> Well, given how special it is to me, I think, and given its age and how well-preserved it would be, I think it would probably go to the right collector, anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 at an auction.

And I know we kind of discussed, before being on air, that it may be something you may want to give to a museum one day.

>> I would.

>> Yeah.

And I don't know, a specific Romanian museum, but I think maybe finding a museum with an exhibition on Romanian art and certainly daily life is probably the best way to go here.

But this is truly a special piece, and we appreciate you for bringing it in.

>> Well, thank you.

I appreciate you telling me about it.

>> We have Jim Miller with us today and he's brought a beautiful vase.

Can you tell me a little bit about the vase?

>> It belonged to the father of a close friend of mine.

That friend is now deceased, but his father was in occupied Japan and he brought the vase back.

We don't know much more about it at all.

There's been some speculation that it was something that perhaps the Japanese got from China when they occupied there.

No idea.

>> For sure.

>> Not at all.

>> Do you know the story of the figures?

And I'm going to turn this a little bit so they get to see the figures all the way around.

>> I know a bit about it.

The fellow at the top is the keeper of heaven, in my understanding.

And then we have the eight immortals.

>> Okay.

>> The Chinese mythological immortals.

My favorite is Iron Crush Lee, who is around here someplace.

But they all have their own stories about how they became immortal through their mental work and thoughts, they eventually became immortal and helpful to people.

>> Right.

Do you have any idea of the actual age?

Did you happen to be able to find the mark?

>> Have no idea.

There is a mark on the bottom, but I have no knowledge of it.

>> And we're going to show that mark real quick.

And it is the red Chinese mark.

They had a lot of red Chinese marks, so you really need someone that reads Chinese to be able to interpret that mark.

From what I could tell, it was somewhere-- this piece was probably somewhere in the mid 1800's that that mark was.

I don't think it's much older, but maybe early 1800, somewhere in there as far as the mark goes.

The problem is they made a lot of them.

So that brings down the value somewhat.

I would still have it insured because it is in perfect shape.

I would still get it insured for around $900 to $1,100, just to make sure.

If you were to sell it on the open market, I don't think you could get that much for it.

But it is a wonderful piece and we appreciate you bringing it.

And it's quite massive.

>> I appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you so much.

>> Thank you very much, Jim.

>> Joe Tramuta, where you from?

Gulfport?

>> Gulfport, Mississippi.

>> And Joe has a beautiful collection from an author I bet everybody will recognize.

Tell us about it.

>> Well, this is the complete works of Edgar Allan Poe.

I bought this set in somewhere around 1980 at an antique show at Edgewater Mall.

>> What did you pay for it?

>> I paid $30.

>> And what did they appraise for today?

>> He said between $300 and $500.

>> Well, great investment.

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> They're beautiful.

You showed me on the top the gold-- What would you call that?

>> Gold leaf?

>> Yeah, the gold leaf on top.

And one thing I found most interesting was you have the original receipt, is that correct?

>> That's right.

Yeah.

>> This was from the original purchaser of the books?

>> Right.

>> And this dates to when, Joe?

>> 1916.

>> Wow.

And you said they apparently purchased them individually.

>> I think it was set up as sort of like a book-a-month.

>> Right.

But you have the complete set?

>> I do.

I have all 12.

>> Have you read them?

>> I have read every page.

>> Wow.

>> And my children have read much of it.

>> Wow.

Now do you keep these in your home?

I'm sure a prominent place in your library.

>> They're in a glass case.

>> Kept behind glass.

>> Yes.

>> Wow.

Show us a little bit about that first page of that first volume.

I thought that was very cool, by the way.

>> Happy to.

>> So I understand you were an Edgar Allan Poe aficionado prior to finding this.

>> Absolutely.

I had read everything I could put my hands on prior to this set, and when I found this set, I had to have it.

It's got everything, all the essays he ever wrote, personal letters, everything.

>> Wow.

>> You can even find out about his girlfriend.

>> Oh, wow.

>> (chuckles) >> The complete volume, the complete works.

>> Yeah.

>> Well Sam.

>> Yes sir?

>> This is really an impressive group of baseball memorabilia from your grandfather.

>> Thank you.

>> Tell me about your grandfather.

>> Sam Leslie played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants in the 1930s.

Of course, these are from the 1936, 1937 World Series, where they got beat by the Yankees both times.

He had a 305 lifetime batting average.

If he'd been playing today, he'd probably be making $100 million a year.

But oh well, and I'd be rich.

>> It was a different day back then.

Well, here's a picture of your grandfather with your father.

And your father is wearing a little uniform and the uniforms are behind us here.

>> Right.

>> Your father was a bat boy for the Brooklyn Dodgers and for the New York Giants.

>> That's it.

He was.

>> My goodness.

>> Yeah, special.

Very special.

>> You know, there's lots of uniforms, but there's very few bat boy uniforms.

Yeah, I just can't believe these have survived.

>> Me neither.

>> And this one has, S. Leslie Junior for Sam Leslie Junior.

And of course, you're the third.

>> Right.

>> And this one just says Leslie.

>> Yeah.

>> My goodness.

Well, those are great.

But back to the programs and the other things you have here.

Did he ever tell you anything about the passes?

>> Did not, no.

Unfortunately, no.

They were found after his passing and... those stories are gone.

>> Those were for, like, your grandmother, where she could attend the game, or friends.

I guess since they had them, these were the ones your grandmother used.

>> That's it?

>> Yeah.

And then you have one for a lower box and that's the 1936, I think they called it the World Championship back then.

Which is the World Series today.

>> Yeah.

>> And that's her ticket for that.

So she wasn't up in the nosebleed section.

>> I would hope not.

>> Her husband was playing.

They had her down where she could see it.

Your programs are just amazing.

You know, over the years, I've seen a lot of programs, but never programs with signatures like this.

It's usually a fan that showed up at the game and he had a program and if he got close to a player, he begged him to sign it, and got a signature, or maybe two or three.

Of course, your dad was in the dugout with these guys.

So he just got everybody to sign them and they didn't sign one, they signed three.

>> A bunch of them.

>> And there's folks in here like Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio.

>> Yeah.

It's his first World Series, actually.

>> Yeah, it's 1936.

There's (sigh) there are so many signatures here.

It would probably take a week to try to estimate the value of your program.

I said there was three.

There's actually four.

>> There is actually four.

>> There's three 1936 and then there's one 1937.

>> Actually, there's four 1936.

My brother took one to store away.

>> So your brother has one for safety.

You know, looks like everybody-- The manager signed, all the players signed.

There are just a few exceptions.

And one of them, I think, was your grandfather.

He didn't sign his.

>> Yeah.

>> But he got everybody else to sign.

I think your programs, in today's market, will probably bring and the $2,500 to $3,000 range, each.

>> Wow.

Impressive.

>> And at a well-advertised sports auction they could go more than that.

>> Fantastic.

>> The passes there and the ticket, those passes are probably... $300 each, and the tickets probably about $500.

>> Got several tickets.

Got three or four tickets.

>> As far as the little uniforms, I never saw bat boy uniforms before, but if these were regular uniforms, they probably would be in the $2,000, $3,000 range.

And I'm thinking the little ones, I notice there's a few condition issues, especially I believe with this one.

It might have some staining on the back, but I think the bat boy's got to be rare and I would think those would be almost as much as a regular player's game-used jersey and I would put them in about $1,500 each.

>> Okay.

Well, thank you.

>> Thank you.

>> Well, what do we have here today?

>> It is my grandfather's violin.

He emigrated here in 1910 at 15 years old, came through Ellis Island.

And this is one of his possessions.

>> It's signed inside, Stradivarius.

But as you know, there's only, like, very, very few Stradivarius.

But people would make these, and they would say it's the style of Stradivarius.

And they would they would make these.

It's really old, and it's a nice one.

It needs some restoration.

>> Yes.

>> And the amazing thing, It still has its case, although it needs.

>> It needs restoring, too.

>> Yeah, it needs some restoring, too.

But it's, uh, it's a nice one.

It has a case.

All looks good, and it could be made to play, you know, if a person wanted to.

There's no reason why it can't.

But I'd say this is in that $500, $600 range.

But you know, just hang on to it.

>> Oh I plan on it.

>> Yeah.

And if you ever did have it restored, you know, like I said, there's no reason why it shouldn't play.

>> Oh, I believe you.

Thought about it.

>> Yeah, just strings, and... Then you just have to learn how to play.

>> My daughter used to, but I don't think she could do it anymore.

>> Yeah, yeah.

But it's a nice one, and thank you for bringing it by to us.

>> Thank you.

Thank you.

>> All right.

>> I appreciate it.

>> Sara, nice to meet you.

>> Nice meeting you.

>> What did you bring us today?

>> I just brought this painting that I found at one of the local thrift stores.

I bought it a couple of years ago.

Probably paid, like $20, $25 for it.

>> Cool.

Do you know anything about it?

>> Absolutely nothing.

>> Absolutely nothing.

So it is signed.

Did you see down here?

Have you looked into the artist at all?

>> No.

>> So it's signed Marion Collins.

And I'm looking here, 1969, and I'm assuming that's a 1969 and not an 1869, based on the canvass board and the color palette and all that stuff.

So let's take a quick look at the back here and see if the back tells us anything at all.

So it's been papered over.

There's no further information regarding the artist or anything like that.

It's an abstract piece, so it's hard to identify, you know, specifically where it is.

But I mean, we could make a million guesses.

This specific artist, a lot of Marion's works looks very similar to this, sort of like an abstract study.

I have seen other works by this artist, so I am slightly familiar with them.

>> Okay.

>> So any ideas as to value, or?...

>> $20, $25.

(laughing) >> $20 or $25?

Exactly what you paid for it at the thrift store?

>> I mean, I just liked it.

I thought it was... >> Is it hanging in your house?

>> Yes, it's hanging in my house.

>> It's nicely framed.

The frame does have some damage.

And then the dust adds a layer of, um... >> My housekeeping.

>> A layer of excitement, I was going to say.

It shows you that it is old and it's not, you know, some sort of reproduction.

Well, Collins' works bring, at auction, you know, anywhere from $45 to $125.

>> Okay.

>> So that being said, if you had buyer's premium and stuff like that, the actual value of this is going to be somewhere between $60 and $150.

>> Okay.

>> I think the $25 that you paid for it at the thrift store.

>> Absolutely.

>> You did great.

>> Absolutely.

>> Especially if you get to enjoy it every day.

>> Yep.

Yep.

I absolutely love it.

So thank you.

>> Yeah, great.

Thank you for coming, and thank you for bringing this down.

>> No problem.

Thank you.

>> Tell me your name and where you're from.

>> My name is Lillie Philpot and I'm from Pachuta, Mississippi.

>> Okay, Pachuta, Mississippi.

Tell me about this beautiful item that you have brought today.

>> Oh, I'm so excited about her.

I tell you, I went to a rummage sale and she was on sale for $1.

>> Wow.

>> But she is so precious.

>> She is.

So I bought her today.

>> And what did you learn about her today from the appraisers?

>> Yeah, I learned that it's very rare.

That they do not get very many Black dolls.

So I was proud of that.

And he said that we should just hang on.

And we should get Black dolls, >> Right.

>> And things like that.

And that she was special.

She's worth $350!

>> Oh, wow!

>> Big money!

>> Wow.

$1 has changed into $350.

>> Changed my whole life!

(laughing) >> What do you plan on doing with her in the future?

Are you going to keep her?

>> I'm gonna keep her and go get her hair, take that to the beauty shop, and give her hair redone and put her scarf back on.

And just keep her in my family.

>> Yes, ma'am.

Well, thank you, Miss Lillie, for letting us know about her.

>> Hello.

>> Hello.

Can you tell me something about your jacket?

>> Well, I really don't know that much about it.

>> Did it belong to your dad or?...

>> No, my fiancee.

>> Your fiance.

Okay.

And how did you come about it?

>> Well, passed away ten years ago.

It was left to me.

>> So do you know, at some point, was he stationed in Japan?

>> Yes, he was espionage.

>> And what branch of the service was he in?

>> Air Force.

>> Air Force.

Okay.

Well, it's a really interesting jacket, Fukuyama.

I mean, it's got some really interesting emblems and things on it.

It's basically a memorabilia piece of something that he experienced.

And it represents, you know, the power of our military and all the things we do in Asia and the Far East.

And it's really a cool thing.

I want to turn it around, if possible, so that our audience can see the back of it.

There's a little emblem on the back with a Red Bull dog, and it says Loudmouths.

Killers by day, lovers by night, and drunkards by choice.

It's kind of comical in a way, but I guess it's a spirited representation of what they did, probably in their time off when they weren't doing espionage and things like that in the military.

And of course, this is one of-- this is the third major island, I think, of Japan.

It's the third biggest island, and it's known for its beauty and volcanic cliffs and fauna and flora and all that kind of stuff.

So I don't know if he was actually there or not, but if he was, it was probably for R and R. It wouldn't have been for battle.

I don't think anything major happened at that island during the war.

But anyway, as far as value it's probably more of a sentimental thing.

It is vintage, and if it were in a vintage clothing store, it would probably bring maybe a couple of hundred dollars for somebody that's younger that is interested in World War II memorabilia, or Vietnam War memorabilia.

But for the most part, it has more sentimental value than anything.

And the $200 I mentioned is not inaccurate.

A lot of kids are paying high dollars.

They'll $50 for a t-shirt if it has some sort of genre of something like this on the back.

So anyway, it's a really cool thing.

I'm glad you brought it in so people can realize, you know, we do have a history and it's fun to relive it sometimes and do that.

So I think it's a nice gift he left you.

>> Yes.

Yes, I do, too.

>> Awesome.

>> Well I'm glad you brought it in.

>> Thank you.

I am too.

>> Hello.

We have Alison here, and she's brought something quite unusual.

Can you tell me a little bit what you know about this, where you acquired it?

>> I am a big Habitat for Humanity Restore shopper, so I went in one day after painting my kitchen and saw it had all my new kitchen colors.

So I was like, oh, that's pretty.

I'll take it home and see what it is.

And then I started looking at it and I started reading like, Nutbush and that kind of thing.

And I thought, what is Nutbush?

Want to make sure it wasn't anything wrong.

So I googled it.

I found out it was Tina Turner, a Tina Turner thing.

So then I started thinking, oh my goodness, how dorky.

I have an homage to Tina Turner hanging on my kitchen wall.

And then I started-- for some reason, I went to this corner and I thought, I wonder who painted it?

And I started looking.

So then I started Googling: Tina Turner's signature.

I was like, oh my gosh, that looks like Tina Turner's signature.

But still, I was like, no, no, no, no.

And then I told a friend about it.

Within 5 minutes, she found the Ebony article with Tina Turner holding this actual artwork.

It turned out they used the artwork for Discover cards.

They use it as the artwork on the card.

They made posters of it, right?

That type of thing, so.

>> Have you ever had it appraised?

>> I took it to an appraiser not knowing what it was.

She said, "Are you sure it's not a poster?"

And I said, "I don't think so."

So then I took it and I poked it out the back to try and get it out to see.

Cracked the glass.

Figured out it's an original of some kind.

So then my sister-in-law and I were taking it into her home.

The strap on the back breaks, the whole frame cracks.

The appraiser is handling it.

She's putting it on the counter in her kitchen, and then she gets her magnifying glass, she puts it down, and then all of a sudden, she refuses to touch it.

She's like, "Um..." you know?

And then she gives me some tape to fix the cracks because I've had it re-glassed, had to fix the crack.

And she calls her husband down and says, "You might want to look at this."

So that's when I figured out it is what I thought it was.

>> Right, right.

And you're right, it was used for a promotion for Discover Card to put on credit cards.

Two other, besides Tina Turner, did the same promotion with things that they had.

It's really unusual.

It's really unique.

It's a one of a kind.

I've never run across anything like it before.

And if you Google "Tina Turner artwork," there is none.

>> No.

>> So I don't know if she didn't do it, but she was real creative and it's very well done.

The detail, the little reds in here, obviously her signature, Nutbush, Nutbush city limits.

Just a wonderful thing for Tina Turner.

Did they give you any idea of value?

>> No, she told me that I could send it to an auction house and they would probably start it at $10,000 or something.

And I'm not a risk taker, so I'm like, yeah, no.

Because if you don't get that...

I would rather have it for the story.

And then she said, "Well, if you need money, I'll give you $2,000 for it."

And I was like, It's a better story... >> Than $2,000.

Yeah.

And I agree.

Yeah.

And it is a wonderful, wonderful picture.

I'd never let it go.

Well, maybe for the right price.

>> Talk to me.

(laughing) >> Well, everything is for sale, right?

You know, I've asked other appraisers in here if they had ever seen anything like it.

And we all agree that it's really kind of a priceless thing, especially now that Tina is gone, that you're not going to run across another one.

So keep it.

Don't sell it.

But I would, for insurance, because you do need insurance on it.

So I would probably insure it between $10,000 and $15,000.

We thank you very much for bringing it.

I hope you've had a good time.

>> I have.

>> I had a good time talking to you.

And thank you for coming.

>> Oh, you're most welcome.

Thank you.