Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

I like to yard-sale, but I get a lot of grief from my sons all the time, so I've been trying to, like, not do it as often, but I saw a sign, and I stopped, and I saw these, and I liked them.

Okay. GUEST

And the price was right.

APPRAISER

Can I ask what you paid for them?

GUEST

For all of them, $25.

APPRAISER

How long ago?

GUEST

Just a few months ago.

APPRAISER

Really? When you came in, you had these all in a folder.

GUEST

That I bought last night.

APPRAISER

That you bought last night. Probably for almost the same amount.

GUEST

Yeah, yeah, it was $20 for the folder, yeah.

APPRAISER

And the top one was this one up here.

GUEST

Yes. I really liked it, and I'm familiar with the artist, but I wasn't sure if it was real or not.

APPRAISER

And it's signed "Edward Hopper" underneath.

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

So then, I flipped the page in the book, and this piece showed up. This is by Kenneth Hayes Miller, who is, was, in his day, a very important artist and instructor, but isn't somebody who's really withstood the test of time. But what's interesting about seeing these two together is, the Hopper was in a portfolio called "Six

American Etchings

The 'New Republic' Portfolio." That was published in 1924. This was also in that same portfolio.

GUEST

Oh.

APPRAISER

So just by having found the two together, that strengthens the provenance even more.

GUEST

Oh, okay.

APPRAISER

To tell me, "This looks very good." Also in that same portfolio of six prints was a John Marin print, an Ernest Haskell print...

GUEST

Ah!

APPRAISER

And a Peggy Bacon print.

GUEST

And I left one behind.

APPRAISER

And that was by John Sloan?

GUEST

I don't know. Because I didn't have enough money-- I only had, like, $25, so I left one behind.

APPRAISER

Oh, no!

GUEST

(laughing) And I just took the one that I didn't-- yeah.

APPRAISER

So that was probably a print by John Sloan called "The Bandits Cave."

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

So the fact that you have all these together is wonderful proof that this is indeed what it purports to be. The Hayes Miller, also pencil-signed, also an etching, lovely print, not in terrific condition. Realistically, were you to sell this at auction, you might expect it to bring about $80 to $120.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

Not a tremendous amount.

GUEST

Yeah.

APPRAISER

The Ernest Haskell, also signed, called "Sentinels of North Creek," another lovely etching, but again, not very important. $200, $300. Peggy Bacon, a fairly unusual female artist. This is a more important print. It's called "Promenade Deck." At auction currently, you're probably looking about $500 to $700 for it.

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

The John Marin is interesting. When the portfolio first came out, it included this John Marin print, which is called "Brooklyn Bridge Six Swaying."

GUEST

Okay.

APPRAISER

After just a few of the edition was published, he changed out that print for another print called "Downtown, The El." This is the more rare and desirable print.

GUEST

Oh.

APPRAISER

So this is a fantastic etching, and it's in lovely condition. So at auction, for the John Marin, you're looking about $15,000 to $25,000.

GUEST

Oh, my God. Oh, my God! I'm glad I didn't leave that one behind. (laughs)

APPRAISER

The Hopper is possibly one of his best-known prints. And at auction, you're looking $30,000 to $50,000.

GUEST

Crazy. Absolutely crazy.

APPRAISER

Are your kids going to give you grief after this?

GUEST

No, they better not. (both laugh) They better not. No, not at all, they better not.

APPRAISER

The one you left behind, the John Sloan, $500 to $700 at auction.