Phone Home: Roadshow Guest Gets a Shocking Call to Action
On Antiques Roadshow, one man discovered his dad’s cherished painting was worth far more than he ever imagined.
An Antiques Roadshow visitor recently experienced a jaw-dropping moment when expert Alan Fausel valued a cherished family heirloom at up to $250,000
The guest, who inherited a John Falter illustration titled The Driving Range from his father, explained, “I got it through my father. It was something that he had in his home for many years, and when he passed on, it was willed to me, and we’ve had it hanging in our living room ever since.” The guest explained that the illustration featured a range of golf stances—some perfect, others less so—and had originally graced the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.
John Falter (1910–1982) was a prolific American illustrator best known for his iconic work for The Saturday Evening Post, where he painted 185 memorable covers capturing everyday moments of 20th-century life. His crisp, relatable scenes and deft storytelling have made his work increasingly desirable among collectors. In recent years, the market for mid-century magazine and book illustration art has heated up, fueled by nostalgia and a growing appreciation of its artistry. Works by Falter, Norman Rockwell, and their contemporaries now regularly fetch six figures at auction, a striking rise from the modest sums they once commanded. Collectors can find similar works at major auction houses, illustration-focused galleries, and even estate sales, where hidden gems from the golden age of American illustration still occasionally surface.
The guest shared that his father had purchased the artwork in the 1970s for $2,500 after spotting it in his company's office. He expected a modest valuation, especially since it had previously been insured for around $80,000.
But Fausel noted that the market for illustration art—and Falter’s work in particular— has really gone up … he’s recently spiked some prices at auction well into six figures.”
Revealing his estimate, he said, “I would put an insurance value of about $200,000 to $250,000 on it.”
The guest’s stunned response? “Really? Wow. I need to make a phone call,” hinting that it might be time to update his insurance policy.
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