Garth's Auctions Welcomed NYTimes Best Selling Author for Lecture ! On February, 27, Mr. Robert K. Wittman, author of the New York Times best seller, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures,” spoke to a standing room only crowd of almos
News-Antique.com - Mar 04,2011 - On February, 27, Mr. Robert K. Wittman, author of the New York Times best seller, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures,” spoke to a standing room only crowd of almost 200 at Garth’s Auctions, Inc. in Delaware, Ohio. One could say the setting was apropos, when the former FBI agent and founder of the FBI’s Art Crimes Team took the stage at Garth’s to share his tales on recovering some of the world’s most valuable items. This high profile event benefited the Community Foundation of Delaware County, a philanthropic organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Delaware county residents. The Foundation, in slightly more than a decade, has awarded more than $4.5 million in grants and scholarships supporting everything from educational to cultural programs.
“We are so pleased that Amelia and Jeff Jeffers hosted this exciting event at Garth’s,” says Marlene Casini, president of the Community Foundation of Delaware County. The Jeffers, co-owners of Garths, “and their team were responsible for much of the success of this exciting day.” As the first stop in Ohio on Wittman’s book tour, the event was held in Garth’s historic bank barn turned gallery. The location was a perfect showcse for the event filled with antiques and art for Garth’s upcoming March 11-12 Americana auction. Upon seeing the event space, Mr. Wittman commented, “How perfect! This really suits the topic. It emphasizes the history associated with these valuable items.”
Wittman retired from the FBI in 2008 and published his memoir in 2010. It quickly became a best-selling book given the degree of international intrigue as well as an “everyman” level of art history making it an enjoyable read for all. Having been an FBI agent for 20 years, Wittman might be expected to be a bit more gruff and matter of fact, but his humor, candor, and unassuming nature charmed the audience as he told stories leading the audience from Miami and Philadelphia to France and Peru. The audience eagerly said “yes” each time Wittman asked if they wanted him to tell about just “one more case”. In fact, the event chairwoman and Foundation Board member, Jane Martin, commented “Wittman is captivating. I do not think a single person budged from their seats during the entire lecture”. Mr. Wittman willingly signed copies of his book before and after his hour and a half lecture for attendees who enjoyed the chance to meet him.
CEO of Garth’s, Jeff Jeffers concluded the day’s activities with the simple statement, “Robert Wittman is a class act! Garth’s is so privileged to have hosted this event. Anyone who collects antiques or appreciates fine art and does not read this book will be missing out. Mr. Wittman was so easy-going and personable that he made jaunting around the world, going undercover, and retrieving stolen masterpieces sound like another day at the office.”
The end of the evening also included a silent and a live auction with donations from many local businesses and citizens.
