Biography
Brian Kathenes is a Certified Appraiser, Production Consultant, Speaker, and Published Author. He is the host of "Value This! with Brian and Leon," Public Radio's, nationally-syndicated weekly call-in antiques and collectibles talk show. Brian and his business partner, Leon Castner, share collecting and valuation advice, take listeners' calls, and answer questions on all types of antiques and collectibles.
Brian is the Managing Partner of National Appraisal Consultants, a firm specializing in personal property appraisal consulting, appraisal theory, and litigation support. He is a Certified Appraiser of Personal Property and specializes in Manuscripts & Historical Documents and in all types of collectibles including; stamps, coins, and celebrity memorabilia.
Brian is the past Chairman of the International Society of Appraisers Ethics Committee. His clients include: Disney /MGM Studios, Chubb Insurance, U.S. Department of the Homeland Security, US Marshal Service, The IRS, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, AIG, The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, and The Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Ford, and Jaguar Motors.
Mr. Kathenes has also served as an expert witness and consultant in many appraisal-related court cases including: Richard Nixon versus 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 the past chairman of the New York Winter Antique Show Vetting committee with Leslie and Lee Keno (of Antiques Road Show fame).
Brian is the on-air appraiser and consultant on FanAddicts, the Reelz Channel's movie collectibles reality show. He also appeared as the on-air science fiction consultant for the Discovery Channel's collectibles show: Pop Nation - Americas Coolest Stuff.
He has appraised the Batmobile, the Back to the Future Car, and memorabilia from the blockbuster movie Titanic, including the giant ship model. Brian Kathenes 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.
