VOICEOVER (VO): The nation's favorite antiques experts, £200 each and one big challenge.

Cuz I'm going to declare war.

Why?

VO: Who can make the most money buying and selling antiques as they scour the UK?

15 quid!

No.

VO: The aim is to trade up and hope each antique turns a profit.

But it's not as easy as you might think, and things don't always go to plan.

Push!

VO: So will they race off with a huge profit or come to a grinding halt?

I'm gonna go for it.

VO: This is the Antiques Road Trip.

VO: This week we're wending our wee way through Scotland in high summer, with Mark Stacey and Anita Manning.

Now, there's a coupling for you.

MARK: Welcome to British summer time!

ANITA: Well, it's always Mediterranean climate in Scotland, Mark.

MARK: Yes, I can see, Anita!

My castanets are frozen.

VO: Mark, Anita and their wee Morris have taken the high road, the low road and even a few wrong roads.

MARK: It's right turn!

VO: And now, they're getting very close to the border.

ANITA: So just over that hill is England.

MARK: I'm sure there's been a few battles around here over the years, Anita.

Do you think it'll improve your performance, Mark?

Well, I hope so, Anita.

Because it needs improving, doesn't it?

ANITA: It certainly does!

VO: Mark is a valuer and a dealer, who loves to splash out now and again.

I daren't ask you for a discount on four, dare I.

No, you wouldn't.

VO: Although that can get him into trouble.

I can't believe it!

VO: While Anita, an auctioneer, is both the Queen of canny... £22?

That's too much.

VO: And a mother with a shoulder to cry on.

I clearly know absolutely nothing!

Well, as long as you admit it.

VO: They began with £200 each and have already made a major profit.

VO: Mark goes into today with £327.44 to spend.

VO: While Anita has sneaked ahead on 378.60.

Oh dear!

I knew this was gonna be a bad day.

VO: This week's journey travels from the Cairngorms, via the charming cities of Edinburgh and Durham, to Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

VO: Today's shows starts out at Melrose in the Scottish Borders and heads for a bonnie auction in Sunderland.

VO: Several hundred years ago, the Borders were a frightening place.

A lawless region where raiding bands from both sides wreaked indiscriminate destruction.

Which is why you'll find an awful lot of ruined abbeys hereabouts.

ANITA: Beautiful little Borders town.

MARK: Lovely, isn't it?

ANITA: I think we've got four antiques shops.

MARK: I think so.

There should be plenty of choice.

VO: This is Melrose, where the heart of King Robert the Bruce is buried, and where rugby history was made when they invented the seven a side version in 1883.

Today's activity, however, is strictly a singles competition.

MARK: What's your strategy today?

ANITA: I'm not quite sure, Mark.

I think I'm going to remain a little canny.

MARK: I do think you ought to try less of this canniness, Anita, you need to risk sometimes, you know.

VO: So with that thought, our duo hit the streets of Melrose to try for a bargain.

Anita's arrived at Whole Lot Antiques, where there are indeed quite a few objects gathered under one roof.

But no dealers present, so enquiries must be directed through the shopkeeper, Pat Glass.

ANITA: This is a seal, and this part here would be used to stamp the wax to seal your letters.

Just for extra confidentiality.

I'm not sure of the age of it.

Do you know anything?

I'm afraid we don't know, all that we can tell you is what the dealer actually puts on the ticket.

VO: Unfortunately, the only thing on the ticket is a price of £52, but Pat may be a little bit flexible.

I could do that for 30.

ANITA: I'm really looking to get that for round about £20.

DEALER: I can give her a ring and find out what the best price would be.

VO: So while Pat makes the call, Anita steps outside, not to nick it, but to take a closer look.

ANITA: I'm still not absolutely sure if it's a modern replica.

And it really is touch and go, it is touch and go.

Anita, we have good news.

I've had the dealer on the phone, and she will take 25.

Right.

I think we should just go for it.

VO: Elsewhere in Melrose, Mark is exploring his first shop, Michael Vee Design.

It's a great place to visit, but hardly a traditional antique shop.

MARK: In amongst all the painting and the shabby chic, you can spot things like this.

This is a carved piece of doorway, would have gone over a lovely big entrance door.

Possibly Georgian, probably more likely to be a 19th century, but a fantastically decorative item.

I'm not quite sure that that's gonna go down very well in the sale room, but it's a lovely object.

Hello, Enid.

ENID: Hi.

I love your shop.

Thank you.

I love it, it's just really what the market's going for now, a mixture of the new and the old, but I suppose I was looking for something a little bit more antique, a bit smaller.

ENID: Well, I might have something, upstairs that was in the filing cabinet, and now could come out of the filing cabinet.

MARK: Well, I'm intrigued, I'd love to have a look at what you keep in your filing cabinet.

I'd like you to see it!

I'll go and get it.

MARK: Well, you see, you never know.

I know what's in my filing cabinet at home - bills.

ENID: Here it is.

MARK: Oh, now this is interesting.

A cased item.

Oh, wow.

Gosh, Enid.

Where on Earth did you get this from?

Well, I think a local...

I think I bought it from a local dealer, about maybe 12 years ago, 15 years ago.

Good lord.

I mean, first of all, we've got some sort of insignia with a lion's head.

Now, that could be anything.

We've got a long chain, so it's gonna hang like that, isn't it?

And then what happens when you open it?

Well, it's a whistle.

Gosh.

I bet it still works.

It does.

ENID: Absolutely.

Police, fire brigade, or... MARK: Do you know, I think it is some sort of commander's, for a ceremonial purpose, so whether it's when they're on parade, and you've got your finery on, you've got all your silver buttons polished up and things.

I suppose the big question is, is it for sale?

I think it could be!

MARK: Oh.

I don't suppose you have any idea of what you want for it, Enid?

ENID: I can't remember what I paid for it, and that's the honest truth, I simply can't.

So it can't have been too much.

I think it was over 100.

Was it?

I'm sure it was over 100.

MARK: I mean, how close do you think we could get to 80?

Oh, a bit more than that, no.

Definitely a bit more than that.

How much more?

Well... MARK: Putting you on the spot a bit.

Putting me on the spot.

120?

Can we meet in the middle, Enid, and say 100?

110.

I'm a hard woman from Scotland!

You are a hard woman!

105.

OK. And a kiss.

Absolutely.

VO: Lovely.

Despite having sealed her deal, Anita is still wholly occupied at the Lot down the road.

ANITA: I keep seeing lovely things.

It's a wee bit small.

Sometimes I like having things like that, just to sort of lie on my dressing table, you know.

DEALER: Even though you couldn't wear it, yes.

VO: And at £15, it may be worth it just as an ornament.

ANITA: I mean, can it be done for 10?

Oh, I'm sure I could do that for 10.

DEALER: There we go.

VO: So Anita has spent a mere £35 on an amber seal and a jade bracelet, while her rival has already blown a packet on a whistle.

There's £105 there, Enid.

Oh, never mind.

Tell you what I'll do, £5 back for a luck penny.

Just so kind of you.

VO: I'm sure it all helps.

Well, I'm absolutely thrilled with that, and it's just a hop, skip and a jump to the next shop.

VO: Steady, old boy!

Hopefully the best things in this shop aren't hidden under the dog.

MARK: Oh, this is much more what I'm used to and comfortable with.

And antique shop with lots of antiques, hopefully.

But the question is, will they be in my price range?

This is a very interesting little object.

Now, we've got a very finely modeled porcelain or bone china fox's head here with lovely eyes.

I mean, everything is nicely decorated.

And then you've got written on the bottom, "Tally Ho" so of course we know it's something straight away to do with fox hunting.

And these would have been served with a nip of whisky or brandy before the hunt.

And you would swig that back and hand it to your manservant, and off it would go.

It's almost got a look of Anita Manning, cuz she's a sly old fox, you know!

VO: Meow!

At £750 the pair, those stirrup cups are well beyond Mark's budget, but he soon hunts out something almost as foxy.

Oh, that's a pretty little brooch - "H Samuel.

Largest watchmaker and jewelers in the world", it says.

Market St, Manchester, and London, Glasgow and Cardiff, no less.

And all principal cities.

Well there's a box and a half, isn't it?

That is a charming little art nouveau brooch, probably in gold, set with a little bit of turquoise.

Now, I don't normally go for jewelry, but I'm sure that's just the sort of sweet little quality piece that Anita would find endearing.

It's a beautiful thing.

Be out of my price range, I'm sure, but I just...I love the box.

DEALER: Yes, it is its original box.

MARK: It's just beautiful, isn't it?

Go on, hit me with it.

DEALER: 70.

MARK: 70.

I don't often buy jewelry, I just think it's such a charm... Would 50 help you?

It would help me a lot.

I couldn't do any better than that.

You couldn't go lower than 50?

Not 45?

No.

DEALER: Go on, then.

Go on what?

45.

Thank you.

VO: When Anita was here earlier, there were a lot of antiques to choose from.

Now there are a few less.

But still quite enough for Mark.

MARK: This might be a good sign - this has been in here so long in the window, it has faded the price ticket.

This is sometimes called Satsuma ware, after the region in Japan it comes from.

And you can see here, it's got a signature, and then that little mark there is the mon for the Prince of Satsuma, so that shows it's come from that area.

It's not the best quality, but it's not...the worst quality either, it's actually quite decorative.

VO: Satsuma earthenware originated in Japan in the late 16th century and is still produced today.

It's usually brightly enameled.

DEALER: I think I read that as 28.

MARK: 28?

DEALER: Yeah.

Are you able to negotiate on behalf of the dealer?

I could do it for £20.

I'm going to take that, Pat.

VO: So, while Mark oversees the wrapping of another potential bargain... That's lovely, Pat, thank you.

VO: ..Anita drives a few short miles to Abbotsford.

VO: To visit the home of the great poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott.

He was the first English language author to have a successful international career as a writer in his lifetime, for romantic novels like The Lady of the Lake and Ivanhoe.

VO: And Anita is here to meet Jason Dyer, of the charity that safeguards the estate.

ANITA: Hi, Jason.

Hi, Anita.

Welcome to Abbotsford and the home of Sir Walter Scott.

ANITA: Tell me when this building was built, I mean, it's in the Scottish Baronial style.

JASON: It is, it's the first in the Scottish Baronial style.

So Sir Walter Scott started building in 1811, and completed the house in 1824.

This is the study, so this is where Scott actually wrote many of his later novels.

And this is his original desk, where he wrote those novels, so it really is the beating heart of the house, if you like.

JASON: And in the desk, his spectacles are still there, his Thomas Coutts check book that he would have used is still there, so quite incredible, and also his indexing system that he used for the various books around the shelves, and there are 2,000 books normally in this study, and these were books he was working on right up until his death, so it has incredible atmosphere, this room.

VO: Not only did Sir Walter Scott virtually invent the historical novel, but he was also a great collector of historical objects.

People would send him significant artefacts from all over the world, which inspired both novels and non-fiction, like his biography of Napoleon.

VO: According to the museum, the wood in this chair grew at the place where Scottish rebel leader William Wallace was captured, and the timber in this box came from the Spanish Armada.

OK Anita, so this is just a few of the items that Scott was collecting, quite an incredible array in this case here.

ANITA: This is intriguing me - a piece of oatcake found in the pocket of a Highlander on the field of Culloden.

Yes, incredible if that's what it is, actually, it survived all this time.

Quite often, Sir Walter did want to prove that what he was collecting was what it was meant to be.

But sometimes you have grey areas around some objects.

That's right, he liked doing the detective work.

He did, yes.

VO: Scott's incredible collection at Abbotsford also includes several famous locks of hair as well as some precious possessions that have rarely been handled.

ANITA: What about this crucifix here?

JASON: Yes, the crucifix is an important object in the case, it's believed to be the crucifix that Mary, Queen of Scots took to her execution.

We would like to think if Sir Walter Scott's done the detective work, that is what it is, and if it is, then it really is something that's been held by history.

One of the central features in this case is the blotting book that belonged to Napoleon.

Is it possible to have a look?

Of course it is, yes.

I'm gonna have to ask you to put some gloves on, I'm afraid, so we can handle these.

JASON: It's quite a privilege for me to handle this object.

ANITA: It's absolutely wonderful.

JASON: I've never looked inside before, so... ANITA: It's an adventure for both of us!

JASON: There is this letter here, which again, I've never actually looked at before, so it'll be quite interesting to see, if we can make out what it says.

It says "this sealing case was left by Napoleon on his writing table in the Palace of the Elysee in 1815", so as he was obviously making his escape, he left this behind.

ANITA: That is wonderful.

And if we open... Do you want me to open the blotter, see if we can find any other surprises inside?

JASON: We have got what looks like some letters, and this one does seem to say something about Napoleon.

And it is some of his hair.

"I take the liberty of sending you some of Napoleon's hair", so that is amazing, actually, to suddenly see that.

So what would have happened is that...

I mean, Scott would have a wide circle of influential friends throughout Europe, and they would know of his passion for collecting.

And they would send him perhaps this type of thing.

Indeed, he had a whole series of people who went out and collected for him.

So this is a find of really some significance?

Yes, we just didn't know it was there, that's quite incredible.

ANITA: Well done.

Thank you!

We did it together.

We did indeed, yes!

VO: Well, I wonder if the significance of what Anita has found has sunk in yet?

I mean anyone can discover the odd bargain, but the emperor's hair?

Incroyable!

VO: The next day, Jason did some further research into their discovery and asked Anita back to hear about the reaction it had already provoked.

JASON: The flurry of emails I've had back from various different people, all saying it's an exciting find, and for some of them, because they've seen it referenced in his letters, even more powerful to them, because it matches up an object in the collection to something that's mentioned in his letters that they've never been able to find before, you know - did this really happen?

Now we know for certain that it did.

The provenance is there.

JASON: Yes, and what is incredible when you look at that lock of hair, when you compare it to the other locks of hair we've got in the case, they're all bleached white by the sun, and yet this you can see the actual color of Napoleon's hair.

ANITA: What a story.

VO: Indeed!

And a real first for the road trip too!

Bravo.

Back on the road, and our trippers are taking the easy way out of the Borders.

ANITA: Mark, the second day of our third leg.

MARK: And the sun is shining Anita, always on our side!

MARK: There's nobody listening, just a conversation between us.

ANITA: Just between us?

MARK: Just between us.

ANITA: A wee secret?

MARK: A wee secret, tell me what you bought.

ANITA: No.

VO: Well, strictly hush-hush, but Anita spent just £35 on two wee things including a jade bracelet.

So she now has £343.60.

Bye bye!

Thanks now, bye bye.

VO: While Mark lavished £165 on three items, not least a very collectable whistle.

Leaving him with just £162.44.

VO: Today's minor excursion is from Melrose to Sunderland, calling in first at Kelso.

VO: Situated where the river Teviot meets the Tweed, Kelso has an abbey, also ruined, just like its neighbor.

Plus a fine castle where Mark will soon be heading.

MARK: Look up there.

Floors Castle.

But there's something for you there, Anita.

ANITA: What's that?

MARK: Retirement apartments.

ANITA: Watch it!

ANITA: Melrose Abbey.

That's fabulous.

MARK: Melrose Abbey?

We're in Kelso?

ANITA: Oh, Kelso Abbey!

MARK: I think we'll nip to those apartments sooner than I thought!

VO: But the town of Kelso is well worth a visit too.

A model of Georgian elegance and grace.

ANITA: So Mark, off to Floors Castle.

MARK: Off at Floors Castle for me, Anita, and you've got a lovely market to go and explore.

ANITA: There will be hundreds of bargains in that market.

And I'll buy one for you.

I'll look forward to seeing it, Anita.

VO: Kelso's market place is nicely cobbled and resembles, on a sunny day, somewhere in Provence or the Dordogne.

Luckily for Anita however, the vendors here today are not flogging local legumes, but a varied collection of antiques and curios.

DEALER: A Rolls Royce... ANITA: An old spanner!

A Rolls Royce spanner.

This man's better than me!

ANITA: Would this work in a Morris Minor?

DEALER: No, I think it's a wee bit more sophisticated than that.

ANITA: Is it?

I suppose there is a market for that, for Rolls Royce collectors.

DEALER: Having Rolls Royce written on it.

ANITA: Yeah, I quite like this piece here, the wee jockey.

So this would... You would put this into a decanter, uh huh.

And it has a hallmark here, let me just have a wee look, see where it was made.

Birmingham hallmark, but the date letter's a wee bit obscured, but I think we're maybe thinking about 20s, 30s.

ANITA: I would be estimating it round about £20.

I think you'll make a lot more money than £20 for it.

Do you think so?

But you're selling it to me.

You're a good salesman.

But since I would like you to win the competition... Oh, Al!

..erm...

I would be prepared to sell it to you for £20.

Give me a kiss.

Ah, thank you!

£20.

Well, I hope this little jockey gallops past the post.

Be looking forward to first place again.

I know, thanks very much, thank you.

ANITA: I'm always interested in fountain pens, and I also like to see a nine-carat gold nib.

There's three here.

And we've got two quite plain ones, and this jazzy affair here.

What kind of price can you do on the three?

£22.

Uh huh.

It's too much.

DEALER: 20.

It's still too much on them.

Alright, what do you think yourself?

ANITA: Can I make you an offer?

DEALER: Yes, uh huh, certainly.

ANITA: Could you do those for 12?

Yes, alright.

Could you do them for £12?

Uh huh.

That would be great.

VO: No sooner has Anita pocketed her pens than she's accosted by a tall, dark stranger.

Hi!

Are you looking for stuff for your competition?

Yes.

My car is parked just round the corner, and I've got an item in there you might be interested in.

Lead on!

I'm intrigued.

VO: It's not the usual premises for the purchasing of fine antiques, but Anita Manning's not put off by the back of a people carrier.

DEALER: Now, you know what that is straight away.

That's a lovely piece of Carlton ware.

No, it's not.

Is it Wedg... Oh, is it Crown Devon, right, OK. With a lid.

ANITA: Oh, that's a lovely bit.

VO: Crown Devon originated from a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, which used to be called The Railway Works until it was reinvented in 1912.

It's nice, isn't it?

That's a nice bit, that's a nice bit.

ANITA: Still got the original label on it.

DEALER: The label on the bottom, yeah.

The only thing that worries me is that slight wee nick there.

ANITA: What price are you looking for on it?

I haven't a Scooby-Doo.

Not a clue.

I know what my minimum would be... What's your... Tell me your minimum.

No, you tell me what... Tell me your minimum.

30.

30?

DEALER: And I'm sure you'd make a profit on that, even with the nick.

OK, let's do it.

It's a deal.

Lovely, thank you very much, thank you.

ANITA: That's lovely, thank you very much.

VO: So while Anita completes her pottery purchase, Mark makes for Kelso's castle, the seat of the Duke of Roxburgh.

VO: There's been a castle here beside the Tweed since 1721, but Floors didn't acquire its fairytale turrets and pinnacles until the middle of the 19th century.

MARK: Hello, Mairi.

MAIRI: Hello there.

VO: Mark's here to see some of the highlights of the duke's collection, with guide Mairi Campbell.

It's a real privilege to welcome you to Floors Castle today.

Thank you very much, I'm very much looking forward to the visit.

I hope you enjoy it, I'm sure you will.

VO: The largest inhabited house in Scotland has always possessed an excellent art collection - but that significantly increased in the early 20th century, when the eight duke married Mary Goelet, an American heiress.

MARK: It looks a very spectacular room.

It is, it is.

It's lovely.

VO: One of Mary's contributions was this outstanding work by Gainsborough.

MAIRI: It's Captain Roberts, who was Captain Cook's cartographer, and he's pointing to the Sandwich Islands, which he charted, and which is now of course Hawaii.

It is actually a beautiful portrait, isn't it?

It is, it's one of my favorites, in fact I think it is my favorite one in the whole castle.

MARK: Wow.

What a wonderful picture.

VO: One recent addition to the collection comes close to rivalling what Anita discovered yesterday.

A treasure from one of Scotland's greatest sons.

This is a hitherto unpublished poem by Robert Burns, who's Scotland's greatest poet.

MARK: Wow.

MAIRI: It's lovely, isn't it?

MARK: Gosh, yes, you can see it's signed down here.

MAIRI: And the date as well.

MARK: 1789.

MAIRI: A long time ago.

And this is about a poor little wounded hare.

MARK: Oh, how romantic.

VO: Yep.

VO: The poem, an early version of On Seeing A Wounded Hare, in Burns own hand was enclosed in a letter recently unearthed by a member of staff, and it's now displayed at the castle.

MARK: This must be really exciting in Scotland, to get a find like this, mustn't it?

Oh it is, and all sorts of people are making their way to Floors purely to look at it.

MARK: Gosh.

VO: "Inhuman man!

curse on thy barb'rous art, And blasted be thy murder-aiming eye; May never pity soothe thee with a sigh, Nor ever pleasure glad thy cruel heart!"

Wow, this is turning into quite a trip.

VO: Ah but it's time to get back on the road - Mark and Anita are heading from Kelso to Jedburgh.

VO: The man who wrote Rule Britannia was born here, and the border with England is just 10 miles away.

Jedburgh also has strong rugby ties and, you've guessed it, a ruined abbey.

ANITA: Look at the abbey.

MARK: That's fabulous.

Spectacular.

You go that way, and I'll go this way.

I'll go this way.

But are you sending me in the wrong direction?

Would I do something like that?

She would do something like that, I'm sure you're sending me in the wrong direction.

On you go, see you later.

Good luck!

See you later.

I'm sure she's sending me in the wrong direction, it's not down here at all.

VO: Anita is tempted into the Curiosity Shop and soon finds plenty to excite.

Quality antiques, many with a local flavor.

This is a wonderful bowl, it's an example of Sunderland luster, and we are going to an auction in that area, so it's the type of thing that would be a real hit in that auction.

ANITA: It has an almost na ve look about it, but it's highly collectable and sought after by collectors of this type of thing.

"Too Oft is a smile.

But the Hypocrites wile."

Now, isn't that wonderful?

VO: Well, I dunno, but at £225 that bowl might struggle to make a profit even at a Tyne and Wear auction.

ANITA: I haven't bought any pictures yet.

There's lots of pictures in here.

Having a quick glance around, but there's wild, big abstract in the corner there, and I'm gonna have a closer look at that.

But it's a bit expensive.

Have you got it?

Yes.

This is done by Robert Methven, and he lived in wonderful Renfrew Street in Glasgow, which is just where the Art School is.

My interest in abstract art has grown and I think it's because as an auctioneer, I handle so many things, and I'm...

I think I'm being drawn away from the natural into the abstract.

VO: But it seems that a price of £145 just can't tempt her enough.

And while is Anita's agonizing over her art, Mark is just plain lost.

Perhaps Anita's directions weren't altogether accurate after all?

Cunning woman.

Well, I've enjoyed my little walk round, but I'm afraid I've had enough of it.

I'm going off to Hawick.

And hopefully when I get to Hawick, there might be a nice antique shop or antique center, and I'll be finding my missing bargains.

VO: So, off to a place which, you unless you knew better, you might think was called "Haw-wick".

MARK: I think we're coming up to the antique center, it's around here somewhere.

That's a gold club.

Lovely village green.

Antiques center, now, this is it.

This looks like the place, antiques center, and they've even got a vintage car which is better than ours.

Well, that's a nice old thing, isn't it?

VO: Mmm, might come in handy if the Morris has an off-day too.

But there are plenty of smaller, less mobile items on display as well.

It looks like a very sweet little Victorian miniature frame, I suppose for maybe a lady to put on her dressing table, with a photograph of her loved one on it.

It's very highly decorated with these sort of flowering scrolls, there's a little ram's head here, and you've got little figures at the bottom.

And its' a very pretty little object, something that I think would be quite highly collectable these days.

It does look in good condition, mind you, the price is 48.

But it's London 1890, so it's an antique piece of silver.

It's rather charming.

VO: While Gail goes to blow up a storm with the dealer, Mark gets the scent of another possible purchase.

MARK: Well now, that's a bargain.

I couldn't possibly.

I couldn't, could I?

Come over here.

Sorry.

Follow me, Jen.

I've brought you into this quiet room, because you know how Anita is always going on about her beautiful piece of Murano glass.

And they've never got any labels or anything on them.

Well, here we have a glass vase by Murano, with not a label, but two labels, and it's got a price label, and it's priced at £4.

VO: Murano glass was produced originally on the Adriatic island of the same name.

The glassmakers were allegedly encouraged to move there from nearby Venice because of medieval health and safety concerns.

News that the dealer will take a very reasonable £28 for the silver frame prompts Mark to go for a deal.

MARK: Listen, I'm going to go for this at 28, and I daren't ask you for a discount on four, dare I?

No, you wouldn't.

Wouldn't I?

Yes, you would.

But no!

You're not getting one!

Well, I think that's fair enough.

VO: With those final two items, Mark is now happy to reveal all to his friendly rival.

MARK: It's been a great day, hasn't it?

I've had a wonderful time, Mark.

I'll show you my first buy, and this is a little seal, nice little glass handle, and a little amethyst glass matrix.

MARK: Very charming.

What did you pay for it, Anita?

ANITA: I paid £25.

MARK: £25.

MARK: Well, you can't lose too much on £25 anyway, can you?

ANITA: This is an Oriental bangle, it's not of the best quality, but I thought it was rather pretty, and I bought it for £10.

MARK: I think it's a good punt, and I can see that you're really stretching yourself there, Anita.

Now, my first item I've got to show you, it's a lovely little... ANITA: Oh, isn't that gorgeous?

MARK: ..Satsuma koro and cover.

ANITA: Oh, that is lovely.

I was first attracted to the little heart shaped cutouts, and it is marked underneath - it's signed, and it's got the Prince of Satsuma's mon on there.

ANITA: I love it, it's wonderful.

MARK: I'm so pleased.

Tell me?

MARK: £20.

That's a cracking buy!

That is a wonderful buy.

VO: Next, Anita's equestrian stopper.

ANITA: It's hallmarked silver, it has a Birmingham hallmark.

What I liked most about it was the little jockey on the top.

MARK: Very appealing.

Well, I liked that, and I paid £20 for it.

Well, it's not a lot of money, Anita.

VO: Mark's brooch.

MARK: I do hope you agree with me, that it is a lovely little object.

Oh, that's very, very sweet.

Art nouveau.

MARK: Set with a turquoise.

Nine carat rose gold?

That's right.

Edwardian?

1905 or so, and I love the little box.

ANITA: Uh huh.

It all depends on price.

I know, that's they key thing, isn't it?

£45.

It's certainly worth more than £45 of anyone's money.

ANITA: I'm finding that pen collectors just love this type of thing, particularly the marbled one, and I'm hoping that the addition of gold content in them will carry the thing through.

MARK: Absolutely.

What did you pay for them?

ANITA: £12.

Well, I mean, it doesn't sound a lot to me.

MARK: My next item, Anita, it's a little silver photo frame.

Oh, isn't that sweet?

MARK: It's hallmarked for 1890, very much in that sort of classical style, and I just thought it was a lovely little quality item.

ANITA: How much did you pay for it, Mark?

£28.

That's excellent.

Really, really excellent.

That's your best buy, don't you think so?

You haven't seen my other item yet!

BOTH: Oh no!

MARK: I just thought... MARK: You know, it was a really attractive thing, and I love glass, as you know, and I love the Italian glass factories.

ANITA: Tell me what you paid for it.

£4.

Oh, well done!

You've done an Anita!

ANITA: £30.

MARK: I love the shape, I love the cover.

There is a small chip on it.

ANITA: I know.

Yeah.

Which I think you could probably just get over with a bit of gilding.

ANITA: Uh huh, I know, that slightly worried me a wee bit.

MARK: I think there's a working profit, in my opinion.

ANITA: Uh-huh.

But I can see why you want it, Anita, it's a beautiful object.

MARK: Now, what we're looking at here, Anita, is a ceremonial item connected to the police force.

We've got a silver chain, we've got a lovely little badge that would have gone on the tunic, but this is what really appealed to me, is that.

ANITA: Oh!

MARK: You've got a whistle.

And when you go like that, it still works.

Absolutely superb.

ANITA: I don't really even want to ask you how much you paid for it because it's such a pleasure to see something of that quality.

MARK: It actually cost me 100, and I honestly... That's got to get £200.

I think, Anita, if my hunches are right and your hunches are right, we know quality when we see it, if the bidders recognize this for what it is, it could well make £300 or more.

VO: And here's what they really think.

The brooch, 45, a wee bit dear, and it was very pretty, but the gold is high just now, so he might just get away with that.

MARK: When she brought out that little seal, in my mind it's a reproduction.

The glass is too clear, the silver is too clear.

ANITA: He bought glass, that was just a bit of fun.

It had not quality at all, absolutely no quality.

MARK: The jade bangle, I honestly have to say it's got absolutely no quality at all.

VO: After starting out in the Borders at Melrose, this leg of our trip will be decided in Sunderland at the auctioneer's Boldon Auction Galleries.

ANITA: Are you nervous?

MARK: No, I'm excited.

ANITA: And so you should be.

Oh Anita, well you know, you never know, it's not over until the end of the sale.

Until the fat lady sings!

VO: Well, that's not you, Anita, is it?

Wearsiders and Tynesiders have gathered to get a good look at the lots, and Giles Hodges, the man with the hammer, has his own views on what Mark and Anita are selling.

There's a pretty little jade bangle, anything Oriental, Chinese - flavor of the month at the moment.

My favorite by far is the Victorian silver whistle.

I think it's lovely, I think it's nice to see in its original box, I'm hoping it'll make £200-300 maybe over the 300 mark.

Again, we'll see where we're at when we're on the rostrum.

The proof of the pudding.

VO: Mark has spent £197 on five lots.

That's lovely Pam, thank you.

VO: While Anita has spent exactly £100 less, also on five lots.

OK, let's do it, it's a deal.

VO: Excitement mounts.

ANITA: Yes, yes!

Alright, Anita.

Yes!

VO: First, Mark's Victorian frame.

AUCTIONEER: And I'm bid 15 to start it, straight in at 15.

18.

20.

22.

25.

28.

30.

32.

35.

38.

40.

It's creeping up.

40...5.

45, we're upstairs, right.

I would have thought more than that.

Make no mistake, at 45.

Oh, that's a bit disappointing, really.

VO: Especially after commission, oh yes.

45 is a profit, at the end of the day, £17.

VO: Anita's Crown Devon jar.

AUCTIONEER: 40 straight in, at 40, 45, 50...5.

At £55, anybody else?

Feel free.

At £55 and all done.

That was very good, Anita.

VO: Actually, almost twice what she paid.

VO: Next, Mark's Murano.

Was it a bargain?

AUCTIONEER: And £5 bid for it, somebody.

£5 and away.

Couple of pound to start me, then.

£2 bid on the front, at two.

Four.

Six.

£6.

No!

AUCTIONEER: Front row at six.

At £6, all done?

At £6.

VO: Definitely not what Mark had hoped for.

MARK: I mean, £6 for that?

Foggy mark.

That's all it was worth!

VO: Next, the fountain pens from Kelso market.

AUCTIONEER: 20 to start them.

At £20, I will go three.

At £20.

Two, anybody, now?

22, the lady's bid.

At £22, 25, yes or no?

All done at £22.

785.

Oh, that's a nice £10 profit, Anita.

Well done.

VO: Less commission, of course.

VO: Mark's art nouveau gold brooch next.

AUCTIONEER: I have two commission bids.

We start at £55.

60 now.

At £55, 60 anybody?

At £55, last chance?

At £55.

Commission bid.

That was a very good price for that.

That wasn't too bad, actually, Anita.

VO: Thanks in part, to a late discount from the dealer.

I think you're lucky to get out of that one.

MARK: Really?

ANITA: Yes.

VO: Next, the little silver jockey stopper.

AUCTIONEER: And I'm bid 15 to start it, at £15.

18, anybody?

At 15, 18, 20...2.

At £22, the bid's upstairs.

25.

25.

VO: Once costs are deducted, she's just got her money back.

I'm surprised at that, Anita, I'm surprised at that.

VO: Now, Anita's jade bracelet.

AUCTIONEER: I've got two bids, and 30 starts me.

35.

40...5.

50...5.

I'm out at £55.

60, anybody?

£55, and we're away at 55.

MARK: Well... ANITA: Yes!

VO: Well, over five times what it cost.

Well done Anita, you've got an eye for picking these bits.

VO: Don't be jealous!

Next, Mark's Satsuma vase.

AUCTIONEER: £45.

MARK: £45.

50...5.

60.

The bid's upstairs at 60.

Anybody else left?

All done at 60.

Good.

Good, good.

I'm pleased with that.

VO: And so you should be.

I was thinking 40-50, so 60 is above my expectations on that.

It made its price.

I'm pleased.

VO: Now, the amber desk seal.

Will the bidders give it the stamp of approval?

AUCTIONEER: Commission bid straight in at £5 to start me.

At five, eight.

10.

12.

15.

18.

20.

£20, the bid's upstairs.

£20.

Are we all done?

At 20.

MARK: Wow.

ANITA: I suppose it could have been worse.

VO: Sadly after auction costs, it will be.

ANITA: At least it got 20, so well done auctioneer.

VO: Now for the once-forgotten whistle.

AUCTIONEER: I'm bid 100 to start it.

120, 140, 160.

180.

200.

220.

240.

260.

280.

At 280.

At £280 for the last time, 280.

That's good.

Yes!

VO: That real treasure has put Mark back in the lead.

In a fine sale, it might have made a bit more, but I'm thrilled with that, I'm very pleased with that.

I'm happy you're happy!

Thank you.

Well then, we're all happy.

VO: And we want everybody to be happy.

A great day in Tyne and Wear, then and especially for Mark Stacey.

He began with £327.44 and made £168.72 after auction costs, so he has £496.16 to spend tomorrow.

VO: Anita started this round with £378.60 and made £48.14 after auction costs, leaving her with £426.74 to spend tomorrow.

ANITA: So Mark, that's our third auction over.

MARK: Absolutely.

There was one each, and now you're on top.

I'm on top, 2-1 to me, Anita.

It's like a tennis match, isn't it?

Just promise me one thing, Anita.

Keep buying those small things and making small profits, and I'll be really happy.

Leave the big profits to me, alright?

ANITA: We'll see what happens the next time!

VO: Join us tomorrow, when Mark gets cheeky.

Oh Mark, I love cheeky offers.

Do you like cheeky offers?

I do.

I do.

VO: Anita gets sentimental.

# I belong to Glasgow, dear old Glasgow town!

# VO: And the little Morris has a "Minor" mishap.

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