BBC Antiques Roadshow guest gobsmacked over staggering valuation of 'piece of paper'

In the most recent Antiques Roadshow episode, the setting was the beautiful Botanic Gardens in Belfast where numerous guests eagerly awaited the experts' assessments of their treasures. One guest in particular was astounded to learn the real value of her distinctive keepsake.

BBC's own Raj Bisram had a chat with a lady who brought along three pieces of paper, which upon closer inspection, were found to bear the significant signatures. With Raj and the viewers learning together, it was revealed that the autographs were from the iconic members of the rock world: Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell.

Raj couldn't contain his excitement as he shared: "The three of them were the Jimi Hendrix Experience. I mean, Jimi was one of the greatest musicians that ever lived."

He added: "You know, he was originally from Seattle. They met up in 1966."

Delighted by the backstory, the woman told Raj that she inherited these notable signatures due to a friend’s admiration for Hendrix, especially for his song 'Foxy Lady', which oddly aligned with her own surname, Birmingham Live reports, reports the Mirror.

She disclosed: "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."

A woman shared an extraordinary story on the BBC about seeing a musician play guitar with his teeth during a gig that coincided with Jimi Hendrix's 25th birthday. Raj, the BBC expert, was stunned by the tale, particularly when the woman mentioned that "The organisers at the festival arranged to have a birthday cake for him, which they presented to him backstage."

She added, "Since we had press passes, we were granted access backstage. Jimi was there, and the cake was on a table; from what I recall, he wasn't eating the cake! He was sipping a bottle of whiskey."

The woman also recalled how, in the absence of an autograph book, she got Jimi, Mitch, and Noel to sign the back of their tickets.

Raj was astounded by the well-preserved autographs, exclaiming: "To have held onto them all these years! And to keep them in such pristine condition! " The woman explained her method of preservation: "I kept them in an envelope for safekeeping."

Raj remarked, "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."

He also reflected on the rarity of such items, stating, "Of course, unfortunately, he died very young, which makes some of these memorabilia that he's left behind even more valuable."

When nudged for an estimate on their auction value, Raj conceded that Jimi Hendrix's memorabilia could fetch a substantial amount on its own, but emphasized it was the combination of three pieces that heightened their value. He divulged, "If these went into auction, they would make somewhere between £5,000 and £7,000."

The memorabilia owner was visibly astounded, responding with disbelief: "What? ! You're joking! That's crazy, crazy, crazy."

Amid clapping from those around, Raj confirmed that his valuation was indeed genuine.