The Antique Roadshow is an extremely popular show on PBS.  With over 60 appraisers in over 2 dozen areas of expertise more than 60,000 antiques and collectibles are viewed and evaluated each year.  What is important to know is which items are rare and which ones are common.  The following are regularly seen and are more common.

1)  Japanese Dragon-Decorated Porcelain Tea & Coffee Cups

During WWII and the Korean war many Americans were stationed in Asia and returned home with tea and coffee cups.  These cups have beautifully crafted dragons or images of young women on them.  They are marked "Made in occupied Japan" and are often made with tones of red, blue, or grey.  Currently there are too many sellers than buyers in this market and the average cup or set goes for under $100.

2)  Postcards

Of the hundreds of thousands of postcards produced over the years only a rare minority have a value above $5.  Only extremely rare and specific postcards, cards of the Titanic, or of early famous sports figures are enticed collectors to spend over $500.  But that is at the very very top of the postcard market and it is extremely rare for someone to have a postcard like this.  There are some semi-rare postcards of Halloween or Christmas that may go for $50-$100 at auction.  Although the vast majority of postcards seen at Antiques Roadshow are worth between 5cents and $1.

3)  Vintage Sewing Machines

In the early 19th and 20th century sewing machines were prized possessions in a family.  They were also a big investment at the time of their purchase.  Because of this many families today still have their sewing machines from over a hundred years ago.  Vintage sewing machines are generally worth $250 or less, if and only if they are on their original table or have their original case with attachments.