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WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest didn’t even entertain the idea of putting his signed copy of Wizard of Oz for sale, despite its five-figure value.
The PBS series travelled to the McNay Art Museum in Texas where they met a guest who brought in a copy of The Wizard of Oz book which was very sentimental to him.
He explained: “My dad actually purchased this back in the mid 1960s, I had the mailing envelope from Texian Press in Waco, Texas, I think they were book dealers, so it was in that mailing envelope and it was postmarked December 1965.
“And I was only two-years-old, I don’t know how much he paid for it.
“My father passed away when I was 11, then the books went to my mother and I just remember growing up with them.
“He was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz so he started collecting them. What’s unique about this particular first-edition is that it’s autographed by the illustrator who is W.W. Denslow.
“He also has an original piece of art inside the cover of this book.”
Read more: Antiques Roadshow guest speechless after bombshell valuation of wedding gift
Antiques Roadshow guest refuses to sell signed Wizard of Oz book on heartbreaking grounds. (Image: PBS)
It was then expert Francis J Walgren’s turn to step in to explain that both author Frank Baum and Denslow were “immortalised” because of their work on the book.
They also strongly believed it needed to be in colour and so the pair paid out of their own pockets for colour printing which was complicated and expensive at this time.
Walgren then showed the front free-end paper of the book which featured a detailed drawing around an inscription, featuring the story’s scarecrow and a cat-like figure who resembled a “circus ringmaster”.
“What Denslow has done is really quite extraordinary, because it really matches this printed illustration…you can see his style”, Walgren said.
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An Antiques Roadshow guest brought in an inscribed Wizard of Oz book. (Image: PBS)
The expert then pointed out that the book was inscribed to a Dorothy Rountree which he began to delve into.
He commented: “I started to ask myself what’s the connection?
“This is not just a little casual signature. I looked up Rountree and what is interesting in this association, there was a Harrison Rountree who was Dorothy’s father and Harrison H. Rountree was a very wealthy, Chicago banker, investor.
“He in fact helped Baum out, you know, Baum had financial problems.
“Rountree was very much linked to the whole Baum-Denslow story.
“Which, further investigation, we find that there is even a suggestion that the Dorothy character might have been named after Rountree’s daughter. So this could be the original Dorothy.”
He went on to comment how there was some dispute if this was her, given that Baum’s niece passed away as a child so it may have been a homage to her.
“At the same time, we find out that a good close associate had a daughter named Dorothy who was very meaningful to the whole enterprise.
“And to have that inscription done with such care, obviously a Christmas gift, this is no longer just a girl named Dorothy. This might really be the Dorothy, possibly.”
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BBC Antiques Roadshow: Top 7 biggest valuations will leave you staggered
Antiques Roadshow has made some lucky Brits a pretty penny over the years.
Often viewers are left stunned when something left sitting in an attic is worth millions of pounds.
From a Faberge flower, to art by Banksy - here are the seven most expensive antiques discovered on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow.
An Antiques Roadshow guest valued a Wizard of Oz book for at least $60,000. (Image: PBS)
Beginning to summarise, Walgren said: “The book itself, an auction estimate would be in the $20,000 to $30,000 range, just a copy, no signature, no Denslow.
“With the added Denslow, with that fine drawing, presenting it, and with the depth of the potential Dorothy association, it really elevates this thing.
“So I would say, safely, if we were an auction estimate, we put $60,000 to $80,000 estimate.”
“Oh my goodness!”, the guest exclaimed with Walgren continuing to discuss its value.
But the visitor didn’t want to know anymore as he interrupted the expert to add: “And it’s not for sale.”
The pair laughed before Walgren stated: “I would insure it, it’s worth $100,000 insurance.”
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on PBS.
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