Antiques Road Trip expert Paul Laidlaw was left in shock when an item he bought for £60 made a staggering £20,000 profit at auction

In a thrilling episode of Antiques Road Trip in 2021, Paul Laidlaw, the BBC’s treasure-hunting expert, hit the jackpot when he bagged a camera for £60 from a Margate antique shop, which fetched an astonishing £20,000 at auction.

The Margate store was like Aladdin’s cave, and the eager owner enticed Paul with a tour: “Three floors, the upstairs is mainly furniture but there’s stuff everywhere. And on this floor, there are four rooms through and in the middle, there’s a staircase which goes down to a room full of chairs and another room full below.”

Paul humorously retorted, “Don’t send the cavalry, okay?” After delving among the myriad items, he surfaced with the camera and bartered over its price, initially offering £50.

The shopkeeper stood firm until he proposed: “Give me £60, and I’ll shake your hand, but I’m not doing any better than that, I’m afraid.”

Victorious with the handshake, Paul secured the camera, speculating: “I think this is a very early camera. If I’m right, that could be quite exciting. The photographic market is very much in the ascent, it’s a hot market, I think that’s a good thing,” reports the Express.

Paul covered his mouth in shock ( 
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(Image: BBC))
Excitement peaked at the auction house in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where auctioneer Edward Crichton found himself fascinated by the rare find, confessing he’d “never seen one” like it before.

Overflowing with excitement, he revealed: “The sub-miniature camera – I have never seen one, in fact, we have carried out some research and cannot find any other example which has sold at auction, we were very excited to see this and it has certain potential to make a significant profit.”

“You couldn’t fit many more in, could you?” remarked Kate as she took in the crowded view of the auction room.

As eager bidders jumped into action, five people swiftly indicated their keen interest. The bidding started at a cool £1,000, quickly ratcheting up into the thousands.

The camera was bought for £60 ( 
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(Image: BBC))
Watching the energetic scene unfold, Kate couldn’t help but note, “They’re not messing around,” as the figures climbed higher and higher. Edward was all agility, calling out, “£3,000, £4,000..”

Paul caught the moment’s intensity and exclaimed in astonishment, “He’s now taking £1,000 increments,” This excited Kate to chime in, “It is not slowing down.”

Shocked beyond belief, Paul clutched his face and gasped, “Oh my god,” just as the bid soared to £20,000.

Paul couldn’t believe his luck ( 
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(Image: BBC))The hammer finally sealed the deal at £20,000, prompting Paul to laugh while his co-star beamed and joined the applause.

Ecstatic, Kate squealed a hearty “Well done” as she congratulated Paul.

Reveling in the victory of the auction battle, a glowing Paul couldn’t hide his happiness, declaring, “I’m over the moon.”

With her own joy unmistakable, Kate gushed, “What an incredible result! I am so chuffed for Paul.”

Understated but capturing the day’s sentiments, Edward summed up the extraordinary event, musing, “Most items in this sale make between £50 and £500, so £20,000 is staggering, wonderful.”