Antiques Roadshow

APPRAISER

Can you tell me who this handsome gentleman is in the picture?

GUEST

That is my uncle Joe Layton. He was a choreographer on Broadway. My aunt passed away recently and left me these items that are, I guess, attributed to a show that he did with Nol Coward, called Sail Away.

APPRAISER

So Sail Away was a 1961 show. Nol Coward was an English playwright, actor, composer, noted for his wit, his acerbic wit...

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

And was incredibly entertaining and engaging. Joe was a choreographer, a dancer before that, right?

GUEST

Yes, yes, absolutely.

APPRAISER

And he was very young when he did Sail Away, only about 30.

GUEST

Exactly right.

APPRAISER

And Nol Coward, Sail Away was the very last production he did both composer and book. What you have here is a compilation of Nol gifts.

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

Nol Coward gave away opening night gifts. He didn't do it very often, only to the people he was really taken with. Let's talk a little bit about the painting first. I love that it's also has to do with sailing. Nol Coward, throughout his life, did do art and caricatures, but it wasn't until later in his life at his estate called Firefly in Jamaica did he paint. During his lifetime, he never sold one picture. They were all gifts or given to charities. After he passed away 15 years later, his partner, Graham Payn, decided to sell about 30 paintings at auction, and it established sort of an auction record for his work. We also have this wonderful sterling box that says, "To Joe with love, Nol, Sail Away, October 3rd, 1961." And the very opening night playbill for the comedy as well. So tell me, what do you think these things are worth?

GUEST

My father told me that the painting, he's seen them sold in the range of about �25,000, or, you know, �18,000, something like that.

APPRAISER

If I was to estimate this painting for auction, I would put a presale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000.

GUEST

(chuckling): Okay, wow, that's amazing. My Aunt Rhoda would be so pleased, that's super.

APPRAISER

This wonderful opening night box, I would put an estimate on this of $5,000 to $7,000.

GUEST

Okay, wow. And the... the playbill, is there any, just as part of the collection?

APPRAISER

I think it's part of the collection. Just as an opening night playbill, probably around $40 or $50.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

So you have brought really a wonderful treasure trove of Nol Coward memorabilia. Please enjoy it.

GUEST

Thank you, I will.

APPRAISER

It's a treasure.

GUEST

Thank you so much. That's wonderful.