PITTSYLVANIA CO., Va. - A $2 buy turned out to be worth thousands of dollars and earned Pittsylvania County's Amie Pickeral a spot on national television.
She is a self-described born antiquarian.
"Most 20-year-olds aren't into antiquing," I said.
"No. Certainly not. My friends kinda get a little creeped out when they come in here," Pickeral said.
Her walls are lined with dolls -- dozens of them -- some dating back to the 1800s. It's her prized collection she started when she was 13.
She also collects old prints, letters, and books. One book published in 1632 titled, "The Lawes Resolutions of Women's Rights" about women's rights is worth more than the rest of her collection of antiques.
She found it in a box at an estate sale in Danville. It's hard to read and worn but looked like a perfect $2 buy. After some research she had a hunch it was worth more.
"It was possibly the first book ever published in the English language concerning women's rights. And I thought, hey, that is pretty cool. But I couldn't find any figures on it. So that's when we went to 'Antiques Roadshow'," Pickeral said.
"Lets have a look at it," said Martin Gammon, an appraiser from Bonhams and featured regularly on the show.
Last August the PBS show happened to be in Richmond and by the luck of the draw she was chosen to appear in front of a national audience. It was right there on camera where she discovered it's real value.
Her reaction is priceless.
"It probably has an auction estimate of this condition of $6,000 to $8,000," Gammon said.
"Oh my! Are you serious?" Pickeral said. "Oh my goodness."
The shock hasn't worn off. Since the show aired this week she's still holding that book close, where it will stay.
"I will definitely keep this book. It is absolutely my treasure," Pickeral said.
To watch the episode that aired 5/18/2014, click here.
Source: www.wdbj7.com
She is a self-described born antiquarian.
"Most 20-year-olds aren't into antiquing," I said.
"No. Certainly not. My friends kinda get a little creeped out when they come in here," Pickeral said.
Her walls are lined with dolls -- dozens of them -- some dating back to the 1800s. It's her prized collection she started when she was 13.
She also collects old prints, letters, and books. One book published in 1632 titled, "The Lawes Resolutions of Women's Rights" about women's rights is worth more than the rest of her collection of antiques.
She found it in a box at an estate sale in Danville. It's hard to read and worn but looked like a perfect $2 buy. After some research she had a hunch it was worth more.
"It was possibly the first book ever published in the English language concerning women's rights. And I thought, hey, that is pretty cool. But I couldn't find any figures on it. So that's when we went to 'Antiques Roadshow'," Pickeral said.
"Lets have a look at it," said Martin Gammon, an appraiser from Bonhams and featured regularly on the show.
Last August the PBS show happened to be in Richmond and by the luck of the draw she was chosen to appear in front of a national audience. It was right there on camera where she discovered it's real value.
Her reaction is priceless.
"It probably has an auction estimate of this condition of $6,000 to $8,000," Gammon said.
"Oh my! Are you serious?" Pickeral said. "Oh my goodness."
The shock hasn't worn off. Since the show aired this week she's still holding that book close, where it will stay.
"I will definitely keep this book. It is absolutely my treasure," Pickeral said.
To watch the episode that aired 5/18/2014, click here.
Source: www.wdbj7.com