LYNNWOOD — Kathy Ingebretson of Edmonds and her 90-year-old mother, Dorothy Ibsen, waited in line all day to have a soldier’s handbook and a brass soldier’s medal from the Spanish-American war appraised.
Antiques Roadshow independent appraiser Judy Campbell was performing free appraisals at Anna’s Home Furnishings in Lynnwood Saturday.
The soldier’s handbook and medals "were my father’s, he fought in the Spanish-American war," Ibsen said. Inside the leather-bound handbook, her father had kept track of money he had lent to fellow soldiers and who had paid him back.
Ingebretson added, "The medal was pinned on him by Teddy Roosevelt."
Campbell took a close look at the handbook and the medal.
"Medals are highly collectible," she said, "and the memories you have are priceless. I value the two together at about $800."
Ingebretson thanked her and said, "It must be so fun to have her job and see all these amazing pieces come through."
Campbell spent from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. giving free appraisals to the first 150 people who came to Anna’s Home Furnishings. The store is the only one in Snohomish County that offers a line of furniture inspired by the PBS TV show, the Antiques Roadshow Collection by Pulaski Furniture of Virginia.
Jacqueline Osier of Mukilteo brought in a windup toy boat from Germany for appraisal.
"It was given to me by my father; he brought it back from World War II from Germany," she said. "My father was in the Air Force, and it was a gift for me when I was a baby. He was killed 20 days after I was born, in a runway accident in Rapid City."
For all these years, Osier has kept the boat as a memory of her father.
Campbell commented, "What a great piece, because it’s in such good condition." She valued the toy boat at $850 to $1,200.
"I’m surprised," Osier said. "I didn’t know the boat was worth that much."
When the day was over, Campbell had appraised 150 items. Several stood out, she said.
"We have had the most interesting things come through today," she said.
Two Tiffany lamps with leaded glass shades from the early 20th century "were outstanding, extremely collectible and valued between $4,000 and $10,000," Campbell said.
Three quilts, handmade by Quakers in Schoharie, N.Y., also caught her eye.
"They are each worth between $2,000 and $3,000."
On the other hand, Campbell said, people commonly bring in family Bibles but are surprised that they are not worth more.
"People often think because it is old it has value. But there are a lot of Bibles in American homes, and what makes a book valuable is scarcity and supply and demand."
Reporter Pam Brice: 425-339-3439 or brice@heraldnet.com.
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