Samuel Beckett book will raise €10,000-odd for Oxfam
Posted by
Al Kinley Editorial assistant for Oxfam's digital communications
12th Jun 2012
Beckett first edition to raise charity cash
Thanks to Rebecca (@IRC_Rebecca) for pointing this one out to us via Twitter:
Book donated to @OxfamGB turns out to be rare Beckett masterpiece
The Irish Independent tells the story:
"A rare first edition copy of Samuel Beckett's novel 'Murphy' is expected to fetch thousands of euros at a charity auction later this month after a mystery donor handed it in to an Oxfam shop."
"'This person gave in the book for free. I used to be a librarian so I knew straight away it was something special,' Geoff Smith, book specialist at Oxfam, told the Irish Independent yesterday.
"He added: 'It was the last book at the bottom of a box which was handed in to us ... we never got anything like this before.'
"Only 1,500 copies were ever printed. The copy has retained its original dustwrapper -- something that adds thousands of euros to its overall value.
"'Murphy' goes under the hammer at Bonhams auction house in Oxford on June 26 and is expected to fetch up to €9,900.
Great news for Oxfam, and for Beckett fans!
Murphy isn't the first unusual or valuable donation we've received. There are some other unique sales noted in our interactive history of Oxfam. Check them out! And of course, if you've got any gubbins of your own to give away - even if it's not worth €10,000 - we'd love to sell them to support our work.