7-07-2025 4:50am

Clancy Manuscripts

Jeff Barto Editor

MPT’s July Collectibles Episodes Reveal History

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Maryland Public Television’s Chesapeake Collectibles, now in its 12th season, will feature four new episodes in July 2025, showcasing unique antiques and collectibles from the Chesapeake region. Airing Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on MPT-HD and the MPT livestream, the episodes precede PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and highlight items such as a Fort McHenry letter tied to The Star-Spangled Banner and manuscripts linked to author Tom Clancy, according to the series’ website.

The July episodes, premiering weekly from July 7 to July 28, feature expert appraisers evaluating items brought by regional collectors. Episode 6, airing July 7, includes Crystal Caverns jazz club memorabilia from Washington, D.C., a buffalo bone breastplate, and Maryland needlework samplers. Episode 7, on July 14, presents a letter from Fort McHenry’s commander requesting the flag that inspired The Star-Spangled Banner, alongside Gerrit Beneker artwork and a Persian rug. Episode 8, airing July 21, features a pocket watch with a hidden surprise, documents about a Jewish family’s escape from Nazi Germany, and a collector’s shared style with astronaut John Glenn. Episode 9, on July 28, showcases Peanuts comic strip sketches, Tom Clancy manuscripts, and a family heirloom cherished by a young collector.

Encore broadcasts air Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. on MPT2 and its livestream. Full episodes are available on MPT’s online video player and the free PBS app. A season preview is accessible on YouTube. The series, funded by Alex Cooper Auctioneers and Second Story Books, is filmed at MPT’s Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio in Owings Mills.

Chesapeake Collectibles draws collectors from Maryland, Virginia, and beyond, who present items ranging from historical documents to folk art. Appraisers provide insights into each object’s history, provenance, and value, revealing stories like a family quilt’s complex past or a cigarette case’s World War II connection. The show’s format emphasizes the cultural and personal significance of collectibles, engaging viewers with narratives of discovery and heritage.

The series’ Talkin’ Collectibles blog, available at https://mpt.org/blogs/chesapeake-collectibles/, offers additional content for enthusiasts. MPT has opened registration for Season 13 taping on October 4 and 5, 2025, at its Owings Mills campus. Interested participants can apply at https://chesapeakecollectibles.com, where details about the event and submission process are provided.

Since its debut, Chesapeake Collectibles has been a flagship program for MPT, highlighting the region’s rich history through objects like vintage stereo cameras and ecclesiastical candelabras. The July episodes continue this tradition, blending education and entertainment. With over 500,000 households tuning into MPT weekly, the series remains a vital platform for showcasing the Chesapeake Bay’s cultural treasures, connecting collectors and viewers through shared stories of the past.