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 He is a Certified Appraiser of Personal Property and specializes in Rare Books, Manuscripts & Historical Documents, Aircraft, Exotic cars, and in all types of collectibles.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.