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E.M. White Company Salesman's Sample Canoe, ca. 1900

Value (2009) | $5,000 Retail – $7,000 Retail

GUEST:
I think I've had it for about a year. And I got it at a consignment store in Basalt, Colorado. And I asked the owners what they knew about it. And they bought it at an estate sale in Aspen. I think people were just redecorating.

APPRAISER:
And what did you pay for it, can I ask you?

GUEST:
I think I paid $75.

APPRAISER:
Do you know what it is?

GUEST:
I would assume it was some sort of advertising piece or promotion piece. I don't know.

APPRAISER:
Well, it is a true salesman sample. And they were in stores that sold sporting goods. And this is what you would order your big canoe from. The E.M. White Company was started in about 1888 in Old Town, Maine, and in the 1980s was sold to the Old Town Canoe Company. But this particular piece was probably made between 1890 and 1920. You can see right along the side, where they have their name on it. But it's beautifully made. It's commercially made, but it's absolutely fantastic. And let's look at the inside. This is so beautiful. It's made of walnut. There's a wonderful brass rib that comes along here. These were really top-of-the-line canoes. Salesman samples are pretty rare, and a lot of people think they have salesman samples, but this is really nice, because it really is a salesman sample. This, probably, in a retail situation, would be between $5,000 and $7,000. Now, this has condition problems, as you can see-- the paint chipping. If this were in mint condition, probably $15,000. But I wouldn't restore the paint at all.

GUEST:
No.

APPRAISER:
I would just not put it in sunlight, and just love it the way it is.

GUEST:
We do.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Marybeth Keene
Decorative Arts, Folk Art
None
Longmont, CO
Appraised value (2009)
$5,000 Retail – $7,000 Retail
Featured In
Denver, Hour 3 (#1412)
Event
Denver, CO (July 25, 2009)
Category
Decorative Arts
Period
19th Century , 20th Century
Form
Salesman's Sample
Material
Paint , Wood

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.

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