4 of the 'Antiques Roadshow's Most Valuable Finds

There's nothing quite like 'Antiques Roadshow', the TV show that combines suspense with nostalgia, curiosity with surprise. And every so often amongst the dusty cabinets and the worthless-but-very-sentimental family Bibles an item is brought out that is actually rare, interesting, and -best of all- very, very valuable. These are four of the highest-appraised finds ever (for the U.S. edition of the show).

This blanket may not look like much to you, and you're not alone in that- the appraiser said few of these historic Navajo 'first phase' blankets, made before 1865, survive, perhaps less than fifty. No surprises there, since if I found one of those in my basement it would become my picnic blanket, not my ticket to riches. But a ticket it is, estimated at about $500,000.00.

You probably don't know who Henry Clay is, but if anyone can be a political badass this is your guy. He was Speaker of the House for the House of Representatives in 1811, which is by no means unique, except that he was elected for Speaker his first day on the job. That's like being hired to be the mailroom assistant's assistant at Apple, then being promoted to Steve Jobs's Replacement by noon. This painting is valued at about $300,000.00 to $500,000.00.

If ever you're stationed in China and just wandering around looking for a souvenir, you're already on the path to greatness, as that's what the creator of this collection did in the 1940's and 1950's and it's now valued at $710,000.00 to $1,070,000.00. And that's for the four pieces that were brought in- according to the guest, there are thirty other pieces still boxed up at home.

These are circa 16th century, so there's probably not a very good chance you'll be able to pick up a set in your local Chinatown, but they made one Oklahoma man very, very happy with an appraisal of $1,000,000.00 to $1,500,000.00, the highest appraisal on the show ever. As my family would say, 'take a picture and sell it'.