MASHPEE – A familiar face from the PBS program Antiques Roadshow will be appraising items Thursday evening in Mashpee.
Rare book specialist and proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston Ken Gloss will discuss and show off some of his favorite finds, tell stories and answer questions before appraising items brought in by residents and visitors.
“A lot of people bring in things either that they’ve inherited or been in the house or their grandmother just gave them,” Gloss said. “And they want to get an idea of what they value is and how much is it worth – a little like the idea of Antiques Roadshow.”
Gloss will look at items like books, manuscripts, notes and letters, and autographs.
“One of the interesting parts for me is I never know what I’m going to see,” Gloss said. “The story behind it is just as much fun as anything else.”
Every once in a while someone brings in outstanding items, according to Gloss.
A few years ago during a talk, a women brought in an old box of books from her attic.
“They were nice. They were good. Nothing great, but not bad,” Gloss said. “Then we pull out a piece of paper and unfold it and it says: ‘A Declaration (of Independence).’ It wasn’t the first one it was a few weeks later and only worth a half a million dollars.”
Gloss said people are always interested in the value of their items but often get blown away by the history and the story behind the item and why it is important.
“Many times it’s that item up in the attic,” he said. “Maybe it would be a brochure about the building of the Cape Cod Canal, something about the fishing industry or creating the National Seashore.”
The free event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Mashpee Public Library.
Gloss will talk about old books and show and discuss items like a Red Sox program from the 1912 World Series or a brochure from the Titanic for about 45 minutes. He will then tell some interesting stories and answer questions from the audience before appraising items from the public.
Gloss said there is no limit on items to be looked at and he will stay as long as it takes to inspect what is brought in.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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