A guest on BBC's Antiques Roadshow was astonished when a tiny notebook she purchased for £12.50 was valued at up to £250 by expert Justin Croft. The segment, filmed at Northern Ireland's Botanical Gardens, featured Croft examining the Victorian-era item, which he described as a 'tremendous' find.
Discovery and Initial Assessment
The woman explained she acquired the notebook in 2018 from a second-hand bookshop in London, where it was sitting in a tray with other ephemera. Croft, an antiquarian books and manuscripts specialist, held the 'tiny little notebook' in his palm, noting it was 'like a feather.' He opened it to reveal 'delightful' markings and contents, including an inscription: 'FEH Jackson from MA Halthed.' Croft interpreted this as a gift from one child to another, likely with sibling involvement, reflecting typical Victorian domestic life.
Contents and Artistic Value
Inside, the notebook contained miniature watercolor paintings, which Croft assessed as amateur work, probably by a child from the mid-19th century. He praised the 'brilliant' variety of scenes, noting that such material is becoming increasingly sought after. The woman revealed she paid just £12.50 for the item, leaving Croft momentarily silent before he declared, 'I think that's tremendous.'
Valuation and Market Trends
Croft estimated that the notebook would now fetch between £150 and £250 in a similar shop, emphasizing the growing interest in Victorian ephemera. He congratulated the owner, calling it a 'tremendous buy.' The valuation highlights the rising market for historical domestic artifacts, particularly those with personal inscriptions and amateur artwork.
