Sunday night's episode of Antiques Roadshow on BBC took viewers to the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, where a guest was left stunned by the valuation of her unique item. The show featured expert Raj Bisram who engaged with a woman about the intriguing items she had brought along.
The items, three sheets of paper adorned with signatures, were instantly recognised by the BBC expert. Viewers discovered that these were autographs from legendary musicians Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell.
Raj explained: "The three of them were the Jimi Hendrix Experience. I mean, Jimi was one of the greatest musicians that ever lived. You know, he was from Seattle originally. They met up in 1966."
Intrigued by the autographs, Raj asked the woman how she came into possession of such prized memorabilia. She revealed that her friend, a massive Jimi Hendrix fan, had managed to secure not only tickets but also backstage press passes for a concert as part of Queen's University Festival in Belfast, due to her last name being similar to Hendrix's song 'Foxy Lady'.
The woman added: "She (her friend) had a friend who managed to get us not only tickets but backstage press passes for the concert. It was part of Queen's University Festival in Belfast. We were up at the front, it was very loud! But it was a great concert."
She detailed how the artist performed his usual setlist before rounding off with a teeth-strummed guitar solo, a spectacle that Raj noted was quite out of the ordinary.
The BBC expert shared an intriguing tidbit - the gig coincided with Jimi's birthday. The woman revealed it was his 25th birthday bash and added: "The organisers at the festival have 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. So he was there, and the cake was on a table; I don't think he was eating the cake from what I can remember! He was drinking a bottle of whiskey."
Not having an autograph book on hand at the time, she said that Jimi, Mitch and Noel had signed the back of their tickets instead. Raj marvelled at the well-preserved signatures, exclaiming: "To have them all these years! To keep them in such good condition!"
She explained that she'd stashed them away in an envelope for safekeeping. He continued: "I mean, people do that but then they forget where they put the envelope! So to actually remember it and to keep these is absolutely lovely.
"Of course, unfortunately, he died very young, which makes some of these memorabilia that he's left behind even more valuable."
Raj gave his professional verdict on the potential auction value of the items, admitting that Jimi's would likely fetch a higher price. However, he stressed that the trio of items was particularly special when kept together.
He revealed: "If these went into auction, they would make somewhere between £5,000 and £7,000."
The owner could hardly believe her ears, her jaw dropping in sheer astonishment. She exclaimed: "What?! You're joking! That's crazy, crazy, crazy."
Raj affirmed the figures as the owner absorbed the shocking news, prompting an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.
Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
English (United States) ·