For 25 years, Nicholas D. Lowry has been one of the experts on the PBS program Antiques Roadshow, where everyday folks bring old furniture, trinkets or artifacts to see if they’re worth anything. Lowry is the one with the curly mustache and plaid suits.
You wouldn’t think he has a connection to the Canadian Jewish community. But this week, Lowry’s family business, Swann Auction Galleries in New York City, is auctioning off a rare piece of Canadian Jewish history that he expects to sell for a record price: a poster that was used to encourage men to sign up for the only exclusively Jewish military unit in Canadian history, the Jewish Reinforcement Draft Company.
Lowry, who is also Jewish, joins The CJN Daily podcast to explain why the poster is so rare, what the story behind it is and who might end up the lucky bidder of the night.
What we talked about:
- See the poster on Swann’s website, catalogue.swanngalleries.com
- Look at a group portrait of the Jewish Reinforcement Draft Company in 1917 cjhn.ca
- Read “Beloved Yiddish actor Pinchas Blitt is toasted on his 90th birthday (and memoir launch)” at thecjn.ca
The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Victoria Redden is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. Find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.
