Season 19 2015

TV-G

Part 1 of 3. The Season 19 premiere visits New York City, where the finds include an unpublished Art Spiegelman book proposal; a headboard used in "The Godfather, Part II"; and a collection of rare photographic baseball cards that includes a handwritten letter from the 1871-1872 Boston Red Stockings. Also: Frèdèric Auguste Bartholdi Statue of Liberty statuettes are discussed during a visit to the New York Historical Society.

Part 2 of 3 in New York City. Items include a Tiffany Studios mosaic inkwell, ca. 1905; a show run from the Beatles' first "Ed Sullivan Show" appearance as well as an autographed band photo; and a Joseph Kleitsch oil painting, ca.1925, that was purchased by the owner's father from Kleitsch's widow for $100 and is now worth $500,000. Also: a "most wanted" segment at the famed Apollo Theater.

Conclusion. In New York City, items include a Tiffany presentation watch; a 1943 Irving Berlin manuscript; and a collection of rare 1903 American Beauty-backed tobacco baseball cards. Also: Porcelain mugs are discussed at the Salmagundi Club.

Part 1 of 3 in Austin, Texas, features a spinning wheel given to the owner's mother by Mahatma Gandhi; a Roy Lichtenstein pin; and a diamond and platinum Van Cleef and Arpels necklace. Also: the Briscoe Center's Willie Nelson collection.

Part 2 of 3 in Austin, Texas, features a 1607 Galileo letter; a diamond and sapphire ring, necklace and tassel; and a Chinese cloisonné panel. Also: Texas Declaration of Independence documents are discussed at the Texas State Library and Archives.

Conclusion. In Austin, Texas, items include a scrapbook of World War II photos that belonged to one of the "Monuments Men"; an 1875 "Pictorial St. Louis" atlas that features birds-eye maps of the entire city; and a jade ring with case. Also: a collection of antique Mexican saddles.

Part 1 of 3 in Bismarck, N.D., features a collection from the USS Squalus submarine, which sank in 1939; a Torino lamp that was purchased for $25 and is valued at $1500 to $2500; and two Tlingit Shamanic masks that are worth $250,000. Also: the books of Elizabeth Custer are discussed during a visit to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.

Part 2 of 3 in Bismarck, N.D. Items include a miniature Japanese china set, ca. 1925; a woman's ranch-wear outfit, ca. 1935; and a Chinese Imperial ceremonial outfit, ca. 1900. Also: Larson Brothers guitars are discussed at the headquarters of Vintage Guitar magazine.

Conclusion. In Bismarck, N.D., items include a Santa Claus oil and advertisement by Hadden Sundblom, who painted Coca-Cola's Santa paintings from about 1931 to '65; a 1778 letter from George Washington; and two Irish dragoon swallowtail guidon flags that were used in the Battle of Nashville. Also: Plains Indian ledger drawings are examined during a visit to the State Historical Society of North Dakota

Part 1 of 3 in Birmingham. Items include hand-colored Andy Warhol lithographs; Southern dolls; and a Frederic Remington portrait with a letter from the artist to the owner's great-grandmother. Also: a visit to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute spotlights materials related to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Part 2 of 3. In Birmingham, items include letters from a young Bill Clinton in 1968 that feature his opinions on politics and war; a Lalique hood ornament in an uncommon amethyst color; and a 1952 John Falter illustration. Also: iron antiques and the history of the iron and steel industry are discussed at the historic Sloss Furnaces.

Conclusion. In Birmingham, items include an autographed first edition of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"; a Titanic photograph and book; and a Rolex military watch. Also: A rare African wood carving from the late 19th century is spotlighted during a visit to the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Part 1 of 3 in Santa Clara, Cal., features an autograph book that includes signatures from John Steinbeck, Leo Tolstoy and Mark Twain; a Margaret Keane "Big Eye" painting; and a collection of 1936-39 Edward Weston photographs. Also: The Japanese American Museum of San Jose is visited.

Part 2 of 3 in Santa Clara, Cal., features a Lambert magician automaton, ca. 1900; a Ray Bradbury archive collected by Bradbury's high-school English teacher; and a Fred Myrick scrimshaw tooth, ca. 1830. Also: The Pacific Pinball Museum is visited.

Conclusion. In Santa Clara, Cal., items include a Booker T. Washington archive; 17th-century Chinese transitional wine pot; and Eanger Irving Couse painting. Also: the first Apple computer is spotlighted during a visit to the Computer History Museum.

Part 1 of 3. In Charleston, W. Va., items include an archive of the Oak Ridge Journal, which was the newspaper for the Manhattan Project town; a Pete Seeger-autographed sign relating to the Peekskill riots of 1949; and an 1854 Edward Beyer oil painting. Also: diamond myths are discussed at the Beckley Exhibition Mine.

Part 2 of 3 in Charleston, W.V., features highlights such as a collection of Marilyn Monroe stills from some of her greatest cinematic hits; a British rainbow spatterware pot, ca. 1860 purchased for $10; and an 1849 ship's log and register chronicling the journey from Boston to San Francisco during the Gold Rush

Conclusion. In Charleston, W. Va., items include a Newcomb College vase, ca. 1905; an 1875 W.S. Young landscape oil of the Greenbrier River in West Virginia; and a collection of Noel Coward "Sail Away" memorabilia. Also: Civil War cigarette booklets are spotlighted during a visit to the Rosanna A. Blake Library of Confederate History at Marshall University.

Updates on items originally appraised 15 years ago, including an 1847 Petrus van Schendel painting; a Steiff black bear; and an iron framed Henry rifle.

Updates on items appraised in 2000, including an 1864 Lincoln campaign poster; Dirk Van Erp lamp; and Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel oil painting.

Updates on items appraised in 2000, including a Bakelite collection; 19th-century Tabor mining archive; and Jessie Willcox Smith paintings.

Appraisals from 2000 Tulsa are revisited. Items include a Navajo chief's blanket; a Connecticut secretary and chair; and a 1924 Charles Russell watercolor.

Appraisals from 2000 Las Vegas are revisited. Included: a collection of magic memorabilia, ca. 1925; a Shearer chest of drawers; and an album of John Thomson photographs.

Appraisals from 2000 Madison, Wis., are revisited. Included: an 1875 Norwegian Hardanger fiddle; Winsor McCay comic art; and an Eanger Irving Couse oil painting.

Appraisals in 2000 Charleston, S.C., are revisited. Included: Newcomb College vases; Fred Meyer photographs, ca. 1900; and a Léon Julien Deschamps bronze.

Part 1 of 3. In Albuquerque, items include a 1969 Woodstock jacket and program; silk wedding gown, ca. 1875; and Jane Peterson oil painting, "The Answer," ca. 1925. Also: The International Balloon Museum is visited.

Part 2 of 3. In Albuquerque, items include a 1969 Jasper Johns flag print; 1939 inscribed "Pinocchio" book; and an imperial jade snuff bottle. Also: The Museum of International Folk Art is visited.

Conclusion. In Albuquerque, items include a 1962 sonic blue Fender Stratocaster; 1965 Beatles-signed photo and letter; and French filigree earrings, ca. 1775. Also: the Albuquerque Museum is visited.

Part 1 of 3. In Chicago, items include a 1969 subpoena signed by the "Chicago Seven"; 1961 Leonora Carrington oil; and 1976 Playboy Bunny collection. Also: The Art Institute of Chicago is visited.

Part 2 of 3. In Chicago, items include a Walt Whitman Civil War-era letter; 1910 Walter Johnson All-Star watch; and 1989 Keith Haring graffiti art. Also: The Chicago Civic Opera House is visited.

Conclusion. In Chicago, items include Ayn Rand-inscribed books; an Edward Borein watercolor, ca. 1930; and a 1931 Carnegie Hero Medal. Also: a trip to Crab Tree Farm.

Part 1 of 2. Items include a 1925 San Francisco pictorial map; NASA signed photos; and a Chinese jadeite peach-form bowl from around 1900.

Conclusion. Items include "Fantasia" drawings and sketches from 1940; Alvin & the Chipmunks puppets, ca. 1958; and Israel Regardie's manuscripts and books.

An 1821 U.S. citizenship certificate for a free man of color; beauty book by Madam C.J. Walker, the first American female millionaire; a trip to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Travel-related items are featured, including Art Deco travel posters; a Waltham railroad pocket watch; and a Lewis and Clark map. Also: a trip to the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum in Ypsilanti, Mich.