I found an old diary in my mum’s attic – it turned out to be worth more than a car for a mind-boggling reason
AN Antiques Roadshow guest who found her mums old diary in an attic was left stunned when she found out it was worth more than a car.
The item was brought in by a guest to be evaluated by expert Richard Price on a classic episode of the BBC show.
The woman explained that it was a “transcript” of the diary written by one of the “Shackleton expedition crew members aboard the Endurance”.
She revealed that the diary had been handed to her father 45 years before and had been accumulating dust behind a TV in her mother’s attic.
Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition took place in 1915.
The guest continued to explain: “That was the famous expedition that got stuck in the ice, and the crew members survived on the ice for a number of months.”
“Then they made a journey in the lifeboats to Elephant Island and Shackleton, and five others sailed to South Georgia as a rescue party. They got a ship to come and get the other men off.
“So all the men actually survived the expedition, which was incredible.”
The diary documented how the crew members survived, including what they ate and drank during the time.
Although a few pages were coming undone from the spine, Richard said it was in “good condition” and that it wasn’t a major concern.
With this, the expert gave his evaluation – leaving the woman shocked.
“I’m just going to say off the top of my head, £30,000 (AU$57,413),” Richard said.
The guest was lost for words and, exclaimed: “Oh my god, no really!”