• Connect with us
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Our Sponsors

Discovering America’s Hidden Treasures ™
On Tour
Watch
Special Features
Appraisals Archive 
Appraisers 
 Shop
    Quick links
  • Learn more about ROADSHOW's 2022 Tour
  • 2022 Tour Complete Rules
  • 2022 Tour FAQs
  • Nashville, TN — May 10
  • Boise, ID — May 31
  • Santa Fe, NM — June 14
  • Woodside, CA — June 22
  • Shelburne, VT — July 12
On Tour

On Tour

Things We Commonly See at ROADSHOW

Things We Commonly See at ROADSHOW

FAQs

FAQs

    Quick links
  • Watch Episodes Online
  • TV Schedule
  • Best Moments of Season 25
  • Best Moments of Season 24
  • Best Moments of Season 23
  • Best Moments of Season 22
  • Cities from Past Seasons
  • About Executive Producer Marsha Bemko
  • Roadshow's Editorial Policy
Watch | Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 2

Watch | Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 2

Watch | Portland, Hour 1

Watch | Portland, Hour 1

Watch | Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 1

Watch | Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 1

    Quick links
  • Detours Podcast
  • Video "RoadShorts"
  • Roadshow Topics — Endangered Species
  • Roadshow Topics — Sports Appraisals
  • Roadshow Topics — Best Moments
  • Roadshow Topics — Staff Picks
  • For Teachers
  • AR "Extras" Newsletter Sign-up
Related | 1919 Howard Chandler Christy "The Spirit of America"

Related | 1919 Howard Chandler Christy "The Spirit of America"

Appraisal Collection | All Our Appraisals from Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 2

Appraisal Collection | All Our Appraisals from Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 2

Related | Playboy "Womb Chair" Spread

Related | Playboy "Womb Chair" Spread

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

J. Falter "Listening to the Sea" Illustration, ca. 1956

Value (2020) | $150,000 Auction – $200,000 Insurance
Watch  

GUEST:
Well, the little girl is me at age five. And the little boy in the pseudo spacesuit was a young neighbor. And we were posing for my stepfather, John Falter, who was one of the artists painting for the Saturday Evening Post.

APPRAISER:
Well, when we think of American illustrator art, everyone thinks of Norman Rockwell. Especially because of the very high prices that his art has been bringing and because he's done a lot of Saturday Evening Post covers. But Norman Rockwell called John Falter one of America's most gifted illustrators. This is a fantastic cover. The fact that you have this picture, which depicts you in the same pose, just really is a charming, charming piece.

GUEST:
We were in my stepfather's studio outside San Francisco, and the background is all creative license.

APPRAISER:
John Falter, like a lot of the other Saturday Evening Post artists, has not risen to the sort of Norman Rockwell level. But there has been a lot more interest in this kind of second-tier sort of artist. As you probably know, about ten years ago, or earlier, this was a very hard thing to sell.

GUEST:
Yes, it was.

APPRAISER:
People weren't really looking for this. The market price on a picture like this was barely $5,000 to $7,000, and crept up to $10,000 to $15,000. Now, you've gotten this appraised. How much do you think it's valued at?

GUEST:
$50,000?

APPRAISER:
Well, this surge in price has only happened in the past five years.

GUEST:
Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER:
And although it hasn't been record-breaking to the point of Rockwell, it's been record-breaking...

GUEST:
Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER:
...towards Mr. Falter's prices.

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
A few years ago, a Saturday Evening Post cover of Yankee Stadium, at auction, brought $150,000. That's a lot of money.

GUEST:
Yes.

APPRAISER:
Now, Yankee Stadium, in the 1947 cover, is kind of a specialized category. This subject, though, is just as wonderful. As a presale auction estimate, something like this we would put between $100,000 to $150,000.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
And I'm sure, since this is an heirloom...

GUEST:
Yeah.

APPRAISER:
...in your family, this is something that you're going to want to keep.

GUEST:
Absolutely.

APPRAISER:
And I would say for an insurance value...

GUEST:
Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER:
...you should put at least $175,000 on it.

GUEST:
Okay, thank you.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Kathleen Guzman
Collectibles
KMG Appraisals
Daytona Beach, FL, USA
Update (2020)
$150,000 Auction – $200,000 Insurance
Appraised value (2007)
$100,000 Auction – $175,000 Insurance
Featured In
Louisville, Hour 1 (#1213)
Vintage Louisville 2021, Hour 1 (#2510)
Event
Louisville, KY (July 28, 2007)
Category
Paintings & Drawings
Period
20th Century
Form
Framed , Illustration
Material
Paper

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.

More from PBS

Benjamin Franklin

Get to know one of the 18th century's most influential figures.

Now Hear This | Great Performances

Discover the secret histories of some of the greatest music ever written.

Putin's Road to War

Explore what led to Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.

"I know there's a lot of envious people hearing that story..." Antiques Roadshow on Facebook

What’s inside the case?

@RoadshowPBS on Instagram

William Austin Burt patented the U.S.'s first "typographer” on July 23 in 1829. 110 year later came this "The Gold Royal" typewriter… @RoadshowPBS

We're soaking up the story behind this @LeslieKeno appraisal! #antiquesroadshow @RoadshowPBS

  • Connect with us
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • ABOUT ROADSHOW
  • Schedule
  • Contact Us
  • Credits
  • Press
  • For Teachers
  • Telephone Scam Warning
  • Roadshow Imitators Warning
  • Doing Business with Appraisers
  • Our Sponsors
  • Our Funders
  • Corporate Sponsorship

Funding for ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is provided by Ancestry, and American Cruise Lines. Additional funding is provided by public television viewers.

Produced By

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is a trademark of the BBC and is produced for PBS by GBH under license from BBC, Worldwide. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. ©1997 – 2022 WGBH Educational Foundation.

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Copyright
Subscribe Hide  ×

A weekly collection of previews, videos, articles, interviews, and more!