Couple things that you might be interested in.
These are David Mann paintings.
RICK: Are these original David Mann's?
MAN: Yes, they are. They are signed.
RICK: OK.
This is really, really neat.
There's a lot of people who absolutely love these,
and there's even a lot more people who have
no idea what the hell they are. Exactly.
[motorcycle revving]
[music playing]
MAN: They're original signed paintings.
I have quite a few of them, so it was time
to see what they were worth.
I'm looking to get $4,000 a piece.
Maybe I'll take my girlfriend out on a nice vacation.
[music playing]
RICK: So where did you get these?
MAN: From a friend of mine, Red.
Red and David Mann were long-time friends.
Me and Red were friends, and here we are.
RICK: OK, cool.
David Mann started working with "Easy Rider Magazine" when
"Easy Rider" came out, right?
Right around '71, '72. - Yes, he did.
The neat thing about David Mann
is it's sort of like when people see a Picasso,
they go, well, I could do that.
But you didn't invent that.
And David Mann, he invented this style.
I mean, he invented this--
MAN: Culture.
RICK: Yeah, this whole culture.
When you look at any painting, or drawing, or illustration
of a guy on a chopper with the wind in his hair,
you just automatically think of David Mann.
He's the biker Norman Rockwell.
MAN: Yes, he is.
RICK: David Mann is a legendary motorcycle illustrator.
This is the guy who did the illustrations for Easy Rider
magazine for over 30 years.
I absolutely love them.
I sort of want them for myself.
(LAUGHING) So do you want to sell them?
MAN: Yes, I do.
And how much do you want for them?
$4,000 a piece.
[music playing]
To tell you the truth, I have no idea if that's a good price
or not.
They are originals.
I'm deeply, deeply intrigued.
If you don't mind, I'd like to have my buddy check these out.
It's not that I don't trust you, it's just
I really don't trust anybody.
Make sure they're all legit, and maybe
we can come up with a price.
- We can do that. - All right.
MAN: Thank you.
I'll be right back, man.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, I think
this is a self-portrait of him.
Is it not?
Most all of them were done that way, yes.
They say that he captured all of himself in there.
OK.
Well, this is kind of the image that I
recognize of him, with the beard and the longer, flowing hair.
Very interesting.
David Mann, he is a biker himself.
He's very much immersed in that whole lifestyle.
He builds his own choppers.
He was in a number of biker gangs,
and he's a fantastic artist to boot.
His works are just really top-notch quality.
RICK: So what are these things worth?
You know, there's no doubt in my mind about the authenticity.
I mean, you can clearly see the artisanship is there.
You can see the wash layered on.
All right.
That's good.
Now, from a value standpoint, some of his original paintings
have sold for $5,000, $6,000, $7,000.
Even as much as $10,000.
But you have to understand, these
aren't going to compare value-wise with his fully
rendered oil paintings.
That being said, I still think they're going
to be highly collectible works.
I think this one, since it's a slightly more interesting
composition in my opinion, and I think
the figure is a little more recognizable as David Mann
himself, this one will probably be the more valuable
of the two.
I'd probably put this one in the $2,500 range.
This one I don't think will hold quite that value,
but I still think could approach the $2,000 range.
MAN: OK. - Thanks, man.
I appreciate it. - Hey, always a pleasure.
- Nice meeting you. - Nice meeting you as well.
Thank you, gentlemen.
The David Mann illustrations are phenomenal.
I actually am more of a fan now that I've seen them up close,
because you can really see that finite detail he
was famous for.
Just really nice work.
All right, so--
[music playing]
Can I give you three grand for them?
When was the last time you saw one of these?
It's been-- actually, I've never
had these come in my shop.
So, you know-- (SIGHING)
I don't think they'll stay here long.
What's your best price on these?
$3,500.
RICK: (SIGHING) You know, this is a job where you're not
supposed to use your emotion--
Mhm.
RICK: --but I think these are just so incredibly cool.
$3,500.
You got a deal, mam.
All right, good deal.
I'll meet you right over there,
and we'll do some paperwork, and I'll give you some cash.
MAN: Thank you very much.
I settled on the $3,500 because I think
it's a fair offering price.
I was maybe going to take that girlfriend on a vacation,
but I'm going to have to rethink this.
(LAUGHING)