During a recent episode of BBC's Antiques Roadshow, expert Jon Baddeley made an unexpected interruption to offer crucial advice to a guest who might just be in possession of a small fortune. The show, presented by Fiona Bruce and filmed at Clissold Park in North London, featured Jon encountering a visitor with a vibrant array of 1960s music posters.
Jon was immediately struck by the collection, remarking: "So you've kindly brought us today a collection of psychedelic rock 'n' roll posters. What I notice immediately is they're all signed by the same artist, how so?"
The guest then disclosed a fascinating personal history: "Because I am that artist, so I grew up just north of San Francisco and I was about 19 when I went to work for the Fillmore Auditorium, and some of these posters were for them."
Reflecting on those days, the guest admitted: "Yes, it was. I can remember and I'm afraid I indulged a bit too much." Further into their conversation, Jon probed about two particular posters that were similar yet distinct, reports the Express.
The guest elaborated on the artwork, saying: "Well, it was a Blues show. I did this artwork of a complete - Blues musicians at the top, a street scene with people dancing (at the bottom)."
Following an in depth probe by the expert, the owner of the items also revealed: "But Bill Graham, who ran the Fillmore Auditorium, had had lots of trouble with the police, and he thought that would be provocative," as he gestured towards a drawing of a policeman on the poster: "So he and the printer changed the poster. But as far as I know, this is the only copy of the original."
He commented on their worth stating: "When you talk about value... individually these all are in incredibly good condition, they belong to the artist and they're very rare."
Putting a price tag on history, Jon then proposed: "So they're gonna be worth £200, £300, £400, £500 - maybe even up to £1,000. But the great value is the one at the end because that is one of one, it's the only one known in the world, so that could be worth £2,000 or £3,000."
Regarding the item's legacy, he queried: "And then that went to production and around town?" The guest confirmed: "And it is still on t-shirts to this day."
Summing up an intriguing encounter, he added: "But more interestingly, you also own the original artwork." He then paused the valuation as he urged: "Please, please, please go home and see if you can find them because they could be worth many thousands each."
The Antiques Roadshow airs on BBC1, weekdays and can be streamed via iPlayer.
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English (US) ·