What's it worth? Antique appraisals benefit Rockville Centre's Phillips House Museum

Locals brought their antiques, collectibles and cherished heirlooms to the Phillips House, which houses the Museum of Rockville Centre, on May 5 to find out their value.

Some residents braved the rain to have their items evaluated and appraised by Philip Weiss, who has appeared as an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, a television program on PBS. Weiss grew up as a second-generation book and stamp specialist, and turned his interest in the collectibles field into one of the top auction houses in the country, Lynbrook-based Weiss Auctions, which he has owned and operated for about 20 years.

Frank Seipp, president of the Phillips House board, said though attendance was lower than expected due to the rain, he enjoyed seeing some fascinating items. Among them was a baseball signed by Fidel Castro, which was appraised to be worth about $7,000, as well as a German doll with a porcelain head, a stamp album, a Picasso lithograph and postcards from Palestine.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit the museum, a non-profit organization within a restored Victorian-era home at 28 Hempstead Ave., which depicts life in Rockville Centre during the 19th and 20th centuries.