An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned by the eye-watering value of a book she purchased for around £4.

A previous episode of the American version of the show saw members of the public bring on their heirlooms and collectables to be evaluated.

One guest asked expert Francis J. Wahlgren to take a look at a first edition of Anne of Green Gables.

‘My daughter was about 10 years old when we started reading the Anne of Green Gables series and then at a flea market I saw this book and I thought, ‘Perfect! We’ll take it’,’ she explained. 

The guest revealed she had only paid $5, which converts to around £4.

She said: ‘I don’t think it was any more than $5, it’s only a book.’

An Antiques Roadshow guest was left stunned by the eye-watering value of a book she purchased for around £4 which expert Francis J. Wahlgren (pictured) evaluated

The guest (pictured) revealed she had only paid $5, which converts to around £4. She said: ‘I don’t think it was any more than $5, it’s only a book.’

The guest asked expert Francis J. Wahlgren to take a look at a first edition of Anne of Green Gables

Francis then delved into the history of the book and revealed it was written back in 1908. 

‘It was written in 1908 by [Lucy] Montgomery. There were really a lot of boys books up to that time, but that was one of the first girls’ books of the day and because of that it had a great audience, it took off and the series followed,’ he said.

The expert added: ‘It’s just one of the most beloved girls’ books ever written and it really means a lot to people. 

‘And because it is a first edition book, they often didn’t print many copies because the publishers aren’t sure if this thing is going to take off.

‘It turns out it was a huge success and everybody wanted the book, but to get a true first edition was very difficult.’  

Francis confirmed that the book was definitely a first edition and said: ‘The book is dated on the тιтle page 1908, and here it says ‘First Impression, April, 1908.’ 

‘That’s very important because this marks it as the true first edition, and for a collector that means everything.’

The detail greatly impacted the value of the book and Francis revealed: ‘The last copy that sold two years ago for $20,000.’

Francis confirmed that the book was definitely a first edition and said: ‘The book is dated on the тιтle page 1908, and here it says ‘First Impression, April, 1908.’

The detail greatly impacted the value of the book and Francis revealed: ‘The last copy that sold two years ago for $20,000.’

‘Copies rarely come up at auction and I’ve only handled three in my career, and this is in equally good condition to that one. 

‘I would estimate it safely between $12,000 to $18,000.’

The woman was visibly shocked and commented: ‘My daughter is not going to believe it. Thank you very much, I appreciate it.’

It comes as antoher Antiques Roadshow guest was stunned into silence after an expert revealed the eye-watering value of her paintings.

The episode, which originally aired in 2023, saw many antique owners arrive at Ebrington Square in Derry to find out how much their ornaments were worth. 

Picture specialist Frances Christie confessed that she was ‘really excited’ when she realised that the show guest had brought in Norah McGuinness pieces for her to look at. 

The guest confessed that she bought them just because she liked the look of them and knew Norah’s sister ‘very well’.

Frances said: ‘I love that you managed to get your hands on two, because Norah, I mean she was a pretty pioneering artist for her time. She was obviously born around here, but spent most of her life in and around Dublin. 

‘She went to art school in Dublin, then London, then Paris. 

Antiques Roadshow guests stunned into silence as expert reveals eye-watering value of her paintings – while BBC crowd gasp in awe

Picture specialist Frances Christie confessed that she was ‘really excited’ when she realised that the show guest had brought in Norah McGuinness pieces for her to look at

The episode, which originally aired in 2023, saw many antique owners arrive at Ebrington Square in Derry to find out how much their ornaments were worth

‘They’re both oil on canvas. And when you stand back and you see the bold combinations of colours that she’s used in them. Over here, behind the birds, this sort of bright green, with red flashing across the composition. 

‘And then over to the seagull in this painting, that combination of purple with blue, and then this lovely ochre, sand colour.’

Frances was keen to know if the guest remembered how much she paid for them and how many years ago. 

The woman said: ‘About £120 for that one, and the price is on the back of that…’

Frances looked on the back of the painting and explained that it said £600 on the back of the frame. 

She continued: ‘So today at auction, I’d put a value of £8,000 to £12,000 on this one.’