Image by Antiques Roadshow
Several years ago the Antiques Road Show featured an older gentleman who brought in a Phase I Chief Hand Woven Blanket from 1840. The owner of the blanket initially had no idea that his blanket was very rare and he indicated it was the first time he had showed his blanket to any expert.
The appraiser from the Antiques Road Show immediately inspected the blanket and upon close inspection he concluded that it was a very rare blanket indeed. According to the antiques Roadshow appraiser the blanket is so rare that there are less than 50 of these blankets known to exist. The appraiser estimated the value of the blanket to be worth about $350,000 on a bad day. But on a good day, the blanket should be worth about $500,000 or half a million dollars!
The owner of the blanket was an older gentleman probably in his late 60’s immediately began to cry, as he said he was not wealthy at all. In fact, he said no one is his family ever really had any money. So what was more puzzling is that he said he had no idea how his family could have passed on such an expensive item on to him. But, he was very thankful and very shocked his blanket turned out to be something very rare and worth such a large price.
The owner of the blanket eventually sold the blanket to a Museum but the price of the sale was held privately. Stories like this is what makes the Collectibles Market very exciting! You can watch the original airing on Youtube here.