GUEST: Well, I can tell you this gentleman is a fire captain with company number one in Newark, New Jersey, and his name was James L. Kennedy. You can tell he's the fire captain because he has the traditional fire captain's horn. I got it out of an old house in Newark from an estate sale and it was going to be thrown away. He was so handsome that I said, "Oh, can I have him, please?" And, of course, that's what he looked like there.
APPRAISER: Obviously this is why it was going to be thrown out.
GUEST: Correct.
APPRAISER: You were smart and took photographs of the condition it was in when you received it. 30% to 40% of the paint all gone. From the backside, you can see there are holes in it, but you also can see who the gentleman is, artist's name, and the date, 1852. This corresponds to his initials at the bottom of the emblem here on his hat, corresponding to Mr. J.L. Kennedy. You're right. When you found this picture, it would have a very nominal value, actually probably couldn't sell at all, therefore it was given to you for nothing. It's in this beautifully restored condition at this point-- fully restored, which was done, what, about 35 years ago?
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Long time ago. The restoration now has some age to it, too. And from a value of nothing, I would estimate today that if you put this up for public auction, we'd be talking somewhere in the neighborhood of $4,000 to $6,000.
GUEST: Really?
APPRAISER: Yes.
GUEST: Oh, my.
