Judith Miller wasn’t born into British royalty, but after publishing more than 100 collectibles books and becoming a fan favorite on the BBC hit Antiques Roadshow, Miller rightfully earned the nickname of “the Queen of Collecting.”
Miller, who co-founded Miller’s Antiques Price Guide and had been working on a new edition of the book, died April 8, after a short illness. She was 71.
Born in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders in 1951, Miller began collecting in the late 1960s, starting with inexpensive antique plates (while a student at Edinburgh University), and became one of the best-known antiques and collectibles specialists in the United Kingdom.
She joined the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow in 2007 and contributed to numerous newspapers, magazines and radio programs.
“I didn’t grow up with art and antiques,” Miller once told an interviewer. “My parents were part of what we affectionately call the ‘formica generation.’ Post-World War II they got rid of all my grandparents’ stuff. My love of collecting grew out of my love of history. And, of course, collecting is addictive!”
Miller started Miller’s Antiques Price Guide with her first husband, Martin Miller, in 1979. The title is still published annually. After launching their price guide, the couple went on to produce increasingly specialist books on subjects ranging from porcelain, dolls and teddy bears to clocks, glassware, pottery and country furniture. She was a great champion of costume jewelry and vintage fashion. Miller also enjoyed traveling, especially to attend Bruce Springsteen concerts.
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