• 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 | RECUT: Bonanzaville, Part 1

Watch | RECUT: Bonanzaville, Part 1

Watch | Newport, Hour 2

Watch | Newport, Hour 2

Watch | Newport, Hour 3

Watch | Newport, Hour 3

    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
Article |  Dexter Gordon: Bebop to Copenhagen

Article | Dexter Gordon: Bebop to Copenhagen

Article | Burmese Gems: Legal Again

Article | Burmese Gems: Legal Again

Article | Cigar Store Indians: Trading on Stereotypes

Article | Cigar Store Indians: Trading on Stereotypes

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Art Deco Travel Posters, ca. 1937

Value (2018) | $18,000 Auction – $22,000 Auction
Watch  

GUEST:
My father, when he graduated high school in 1937, got a scholarship to go to Paris, and he collected these posters when he was there in Paris. Then the Germans invaded, and he was forced to flee the country, and went to Denmark, where he got put in prison because he had no money. He got money wired to him from my grandfather, they got onboard ship to head back to the United States, and it was torpedoed on the way to the United States and had to limp into New Orleans. And the posters made it back to Oklahoma City, and were stored until about three months ago when I found them upon going through the house on my mother's death.

APPRAISER:
And these are only a sampling of all the posters. Right, right. How many were there all together?

GUEST:
We counted approximately 65 to 70.

APPRAISER:
And I have chosen from among the 65 or 70, by and large, posters that have to do with ships. Now, I've also included one airplane poster to show that the collection, it's multi-faceted.

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
It's not just ships, it's also airlines and Air France. When I look at these, what I see is a rather interesting collection of Art Deco travel images, really from the golden age of travel.

GUEST:
Right, right.

APPRAISER:
They're mostly from 1938 and 1937.

GUEST:
Seven, right.

APPRAISER:
And within the poster world, one of the things that collectors look for...

GUEST:
Yeah.

APPRAISER:
...are powerful Art Deco images. 1And that's what we have here. Some of these I have sold before at auction.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
Some of them I have never seen before.

GUEST:
That makes two of us.

APPRAISER:
And I am familiar with the artists. They're all signed. Some of the artists are more famous than others.

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
They're not all in great condition. Two of these posters actually have a swastika on them: the Bremen poster here... GIEST: Yes.

APPRAISER:
...and then by you, the Patria poster. The swastika was the German flag. These posters do pre-date the Second World War, but people don't like posters that have swastikas on them because of all the negative connotations.

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
So should I give you the good news, or should I give you the bad news?

GUEST:
Oh, give me the bad news first.

APPRAISER:
Well, the bad news is, the posters really, by and large, are in the kind of shape where it will take maybe $10,000 to $15,000 to restore the whole collection. Now, on the other hand...

GUEST:
Yes.

APPRAISER:
The posters that we have hanging here, these eight posters...

GUEST:
Yes.

APPRAISER:
I've tallied them up in my mind, and I estimate, conservatively, at auction...

GUEST:
Uh-huh.

APPRAISER:
...these posters alone are worth somewhere between $18,000 and $22,000. For just these eight. $18,000 and $22,000-

GUEST:
-Just these eight?

APPRAISER:
And for the rest of the collection, again conservatively, once restored...

GUEST:
Right.

APPRAISER:
A total of $40,000 to $60,000.

GUEST:
Wow, that's amazing. It's a good thing I don't faint.

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Nicholas D. Lowry
Prints & Posters
Swann Auction Galleries
New York, NY
Update (2018)
$18,000 Auction – $22,000 Auction
Update (2015)
$20,000 Auction – $30,000 Auction
Appraised value (2003)
$18,000 Auction – $22,000 Auction
Featured In
Oklahoma City Hour 2 (#0808)
Treasures On the Move (#1935)
Vintage Oklahoma City (#2224)
Event
Oklahoma City, OK (August 09, 2003)
Category
Prints & Posters
Period
20th Century , Art Deco
Form
Poster
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!