GUEST: I inherited them from my father, and he presumably got them in either Italy or in Central Europe, where he lived and studied.
APPRAISER: Well, they are Italian, in fact, and it's interesting that he used them to study with because these are actually places in Italy and famous sculptures. Like here we have the Venus de Milo and you see the number underneath. Well, that corresponds with the number over on this side telling about what this is. You have the Three Graces, you have Antinous here and various other antique sculptures. And what I love about these books, too, is the condition of them. They're fantastic condition, these, and how you open it up... Isn't this wonderful? And then you flip it over and it's also on the other side. These are from about the 1830s, '40s. And, in fact, tourists used these, bringing them back from the continent-- and hence they would have gotten damaged-- brought them to teach their friends about famous places they had been, famous things they had seen. They're almost like early postcards. And how many of these do you have again?
GUEST: Well, there are 15 volumes...
APPRAISER: Wow.
GUEST: And they cover art history from early days till sometime in the 19th century, I believe.
APPRAISER: Well, 15 volumes. I have never before seen 15 volumes. Do you have any idea how much these might be worth?
GUEST: I have no idea. No idea.
APPRAISER: Well, let me tell you. They're worth about $7,000.
GUEST: (laughing)
APPRAISER: What do you think about that?
GUEST: That is quite a surprise and I'm very happy to hear that.
