Antiques Roadshow guest blown away as 'really weird' item fetches four-figure sum

Antiques Roadshow expert Matthew Haley was left utterly gobsmacked on the latest episode of the show when a woman brought in a one-of-a-kind photobook to be appraised.

On Sunday evening, viewers were whisked away to the picturesque Pitzhanger Manor in Ealing as people wanted to see how much their prized possessions could earn them at auction.

The episode saw one lady stepping forward with an uncommon Harlequinade, a book with flippable pages that unfold a story.

Clearly intrigued by this rarity, the BBC star admitted, "I've been in this business for about 20 years and I had never seen one of these before until about a month ago. This is the third one I've seen in the past month."

Before perusing the photobook, the expert was visibly impressed by the children-friendly Harlequinade where turning the upper flap creates a new picture while pairing it with the unaltered lower half.

Wanting to know more about the book, the owner explained: "It's my partners. He was left it by a friend of his about two years ago and we know nothing about it at all."

Adding to the awe before diving into the item's details, the expert shared his fascination, commenting: "It's really, really curious. It starts with the story of Adam and Eve. It's done in manuscript in ink, handmade and water coloured."

The guest's book revealed a series of bizarre transformations, including Eve morphing into a mermaid and a lion donning a crown.

As the pages turned, viewers were treated to a watercolour image of a man by a large house, culminating in a depiction of a skeleton and death, reports

Expert Matthew was visibly intrigued, remarking: "I mean, it's really , isn't it!?". The owner of the book, equally baffled by its contents, responded: "I didn't know what to make of it if I'm honest."

The conversation then shifted to the book's origins, with the woman hazarding a guess that it dated back to the 18th century.

Matthew confirmed her suspicions, adding: "Now, having said that this is the third one of these that I've seen in a month, they are still quite rate. Obviously, each one is unique and special. At auction, I think you'd expect it to make at least £1,000.

The woman was left astounded as she exclaimed: "Wow! I didn't think it was going to be that much, thank you! Thank you very much."

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on BBC .