GUEST: This is a, a lithograph My father actually worked for a company; they were redecorating the office.

He happened across a number of, uh, framed, uh, pieces of art in a, in a utility closet that was going to be thrown away.

And he didn't know what the art was, and quite frankly, wasn't really interested in the art.

He was more interested in the frames.

And he said, "Can I take the frames?

My son might want to use those.

, that's the story.

This was in the '90s.

So, essentially, we put the artwork in a tube.

For about 25 years or so, it was in-in, in our-- in our basement.

Maybe about five, six years ago, we moved into a new house that is a little bit more modern in design.

So I pulled this out and said, "Hey, this looks good.

(laughing) "This is something that I think could "could really fit into, uh... APPRAISER: Yeah.

GUEST: ...into my office."

And so I hung it there.

APPRAISER: So, you know who the artist is?

Do you... GUEST: Yeah.

So, Ellsworth Kelly.

APPRAISER: This really epitomizes Ellsworth Kelly.

He's best known for this type of work.

He's one of America's great 20th century artists.

He's a, uh, famous painter known for this form of minimal abstraction.

APPRAISER: And this was really what he and other artists trailblazed in the late '50s, early '60s.

It was really a response to abstract expressionism and infused with a sense of design.

This print comes from his series of 27 lithographs, uh, printed by Ellsworth Kelly from '64 to '65.

And the title is Yellow over Black.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: In French, it was "Jaune sur noir," because it was printed and published in France.

At this time, in the mid-'60s, Ellsworth Kelly was really coming into his own.

He had really, uh, begun to be known as a trailblazing abstract artist in New York and abroad.

They were all done in an edition of 75.

APPRAISER: They were first exhibited and shown in Paris by the printer and publisher Maeght-- M-A-E-G-H-T.

A very famous publisher.

They printed the works of Picasso and Chagall and then in the post-war period started working with, uh, many American artists, like Ellsworth Kelly.

APPRAISER: This print is found in the collection of MoMa.

GUEST: Mm.

APPRAISER: In the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

As you said, it came out of a poster tube.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: So, we, we-- we do have some rolling creases here.

GUEST: Mm-hmm, yes.

APPRAISER: Luckily, as a color lithograph, the color area is not really affected.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: The colors are bright.

The sheet is full; it's not been trimmed.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: You, you just put it in a new frame.

GUEST: Right.

APPRAISER: So as is, I would estimate this at auction at $4,000 to $6,000.

GUEST: Mm-hmm, great.

Wow.

That's outstanding.

APPRAISER: Yeah.

GUEST: Yeah, great.

APPRAISER: Now, that's just as is.

(laughing) GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: Now, that said, a professional paper conservator... GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...could flatten the paper.

Then I would say $5,000 to $7,000.

very good examples of this at auction now sell for $10,000, $12,000.

GUEST: Wow.

Wow, that's great.