About Us

  • About Us

Leon and Brian are the Partners of National Appraisal Consultants, LLC. Both  were expert witnesses in the Nixon Watergate Presidential Papers Case. They serve as consultants and appraisers for the IRS, US Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, US Customs & Border Protection. Brian and Leon  provide appraisals and consulting advice for the largest insurance companies in the US. Both are trained, tested, and certified appraisers.

Brian designs and has taught small business marketing programs for Rutgers University, the Department of Labor, and the State of NJ Small Business Development Centers. They both hosted a weekly radio show on Public Radio. They appear regularly on TV, in newspapers and magazines. Together they have written and/or edited nine books.

Brian has provided appraisal services for US Presidents, NASA astronauts & moon-walkers, Sports stars, Hollywood celebrities, Members of Congress, and Fortune 100 corporations.

Now you can get our sixty combined years of appraisal experience — the good, the bad, and the ugly – all in one place.

Brian Kathenes

Brian Kathenes is a professional appraiser, author, and radio & TV personalty. Mr. Kathenes is the host of Value This! with Brian and Leon, Public Radio’s weekly call-in antiques and collectibles talk show. He and his business partner, Leon Castner, share antique tips, take listeners’ calls, and answer questions on all types of antiques and collectibles. Their book: Betcha Didn’t Know That! — 101 Antiques and Collectibles Trivia Tips That Can Make You Rich, Famous, and the Hit of the Party, is on bookshelves and available at Amazon.com and at: Betcha_Book ,  in both print and audio versions.

Brian is the Managing Partner of National Appraisal Consultants, a firm specializing in personal property appraisal consulting, appraisal theory, litigation support, and appraisal practice development. He is a Certified Appraiser of Personal Property and specializes in Rare Books, Manuscripts & Historical Documents, Aircraft, Exotic cars, and in all types of collectibles.

Brian is the past Chairman of the International Society of Appraisers Ethics Committee. His clients include: Disney/ MGM Studios, Chubb Insurance, The City of Philadelphia, US Department of Homeland Security, AIG Insurance, US Marshals Service, The IRS, State Farm Insurance, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, Ford Motor Company, The Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and Jaguar Motors.

Mr. Kathenes has also served as an expert witness and consultant in many appraisal-related court cases including: Richard Nixon vs. The United States of America — The Watergate Presidential Papers Trial.

Brian Kathenes has been the keynote speaker at the Folger Shakespeare Library and at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. He is Chairman of the New York Winter Antique Show Vetting committee.

Brian was also the on-air, TV appraiser and science fiction consultant for the Discovery Channel’s collectibles show: POP NATION: America’s Coolest Stuff.

He’s an Eagle Scout, so you know he’ll always tell you the truth. He was honored as Hope Township’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year, and was recognized by the NJ State Senate and General Assembly in a Joint Resolution for his “meritorious record of service and commitment” to his community.

Brian was honored as the “2009 Business Person of the Year” by the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

He has appraised the Batmobile, the Back to the Future Car, and memorabilia from the blockbuster movie Titanic, including the giant ship model. He has appraised some of the world’s most valuable and rare books, many items that have been on the Moon, and even appraised (and played) Elvis’ guitar.

Leon Castner

Leon Castner is the Senior Partner of National Appraisal Consultants. He is an appraiser, writer, professor, radio host, and priest. He has been an appraiser of personal property (antiques, collectibles, residential and business contents) for over thirty years and is still active.

Leon grew up in the auction business in northern New Jersey (Newton, Lafayette, and Branchville) and worked as runner, cashier, trucker, auction manager, and eventually president and chief auctioneer.

His company, Castner Estate Service, regularly held over 50 auctions per year including many prominent northern New Jersey estates. They were also involved in disposing many banks during the Resolution Trust Corporation’s tenure in the 1990’s. The auction gallery was located in Branchville and is still operating under different ownership.

Leon joined forces with Brian Kathenes in the early 1990’s establishing NAC (National Appraisal Consultants, LLC). They have handled many national accounts and large appraisal assignments including serving for the estate of Richard Nixon vs. The United States in the Watergate Papers suit and the Upsala College bankruptcy.

Leon travels across the country still appraising as Senior Partner and serves as expert witness in many appraisal methodology and procedure cases. He works with TASA (Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys) and is a consultant on matters relating to Homeland Security and US Marshal Service.

Leon was featured in an ABC 20/20 Special on Estate Auction Fraud and is a columnist for many magazines and papers including Renaissance Magazine. He co-hosted a weekly public radio show on WNTI in New Jersey (91.9FM) about antiques and collectibles called Value This Radio with Brian and Leon.  Leon co-authored and published a book titled, “Betcha’ Didn’t Know That” providing 101 Tips on Antiques and Collectibles for the average person.

Leon was a Certified member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and is a Certified Member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA).

He has been with ISA since 1979 and served most of the organizational positions including a member of the original Board of Directors and head of Designation and Review and Education. He was an instructor of their Core Courses on Appraisal Methodology and Re-qualification. Dr. Castner also holds a Ph.D. in valuation science.

Leon is past chairperson of The Education Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the education of the public and appraisers, and has served as ISA’s director of Education.