A guest on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow was left stunned after the price of her item she kept in an envelope since 1967
Expert Raj Bisram was impressed with the item(Image: BBC)
An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned by a “crazy” valuation.
The BBC programme visited an antiques fair at Belfast’s Botanic Gardens, with Fiona Bruce presenting as usual while guests brought along cherished possessions to discover their worth.
The opening valuation featured a guest clutching a genuine piece of rock and roll history. Expert Raj Bisram was clearly impressed when presented with three autographs from The Jimi Hendrix Experience members, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Scrawled on the reverse of three ordinary-looking tickets were the signatures of the legendary guitarist alongside bandmates Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. The guest revealed how she managed to obtain press passes for the Northern Ireland gig back in 1967.
She explained: “I had a friend whose name was Jerry Fox. She was a great Hendrix fan because he had a song called Foxy Lady. She had a friend, who managed to get us backstage press passes for the concert.
“It was part of Queens University Festival Belfast. We were up at the very front. It was very loud. But it was a great concert and he did all his usual of playing his guitar with his teeth. I can’t remember, but I think he smashed his guitar at the end.”
The guest recalled the gig coincided with the All Along The Watchtower musician’s 25th birthday. She added: “The organisers at the festival had arranged to have a birthday cake for him and they presented it to him backstage.
“Because we had press passes, we were allowed to go backstage and he was there. The cake was on a table. “I don’t think he was eating the cake. From what I remember, he was drinking a bottle of whisky.””
Seizing her chance in the presence of music royalty, the guest recalled: “We only had these tickets so we got the three band members to sign the back of the tickets.”
The concert took place in 1967, and the guest revealed the signed tickets had been tucked away in an envelope ever since. Expert Raj explained that the memorabilia had soared in value following Jimi Hendrix’s death at just 27 in January 1969.
Items linked to Jimi command a hefty price tag, thanks to the legendary musician’s enduring and devoted fanbase.
The expert explained: “People do that but then they forget where they put the envelope. To remember it and to keep it is absolutely lovely, because, unfortunately, he died very young, which makes some of this memorabilia that he’s left behind, even more valuable.
“As far as valuation is concerned, obviously Jimi Hendrix is the one that’s the most valuable. But putting all three together, if these went to auction, they would make somewhere between £5,000 – £7,000.”
Stunned by the staggering figure, the guest exclaimed: “What? You’re joking. That’s crazy.”
You can catch up on Antiques Roadshow on BBC iPlayer