A rare first edition of Charles Dickens’ classic tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ has netted a Stirling charity shop more than £3000.
The book, published in 1843, had been among a clutch of Victorian fiction handed in to Oxfam Books and Music in Murray Place It went up for auction at Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh last Wednesday.
The festive ghost story involving the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge has become a much-loved and celebrated tale appreciated by all generations.
The first edition donated to the Stirling store was in a rather worn condition and expected to reach between £600 to £800, but store staff were delighted when it fetched £3400.
Oxfam Stirling books and music manager Neil Paterson said: “The hammer price was £3400, but the buyer paid £4284 after commission and fees.
“I think it may be a once-in-a-lifetime donation. It’s certainly the most amount of money received for an item since I started here five years ago. The previous highest priced item in my time here was an 1832 hand-coloured map of London, which was sold in the shop for £800.”
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The book was handed into the store earlier this year.
Neil added: “A lady handed in a carrier bag of mainly tatty late Victorian fiction most of which was falling apart. I almost put the entire lot into the recycling, but noticed this one, thankfully.
“I am fairly certain she knew what she was doing as she said ‘there are one or two rather special ones in there’ when she handed the bag in with a twinkle in her eye!”
Oxfam Stirling Books and Music staff watched the auction live on the Lyon and Turnbull website from their stockroom.
Neil said: “Our jaws dropped and eyes popped out when the auctioneer started with ‘Lot 39, A Christmas Carol. I already have two bids, both for the same amount of £3200.’ When the hammer dropped, I was tempted to shut the shop early. I was floating for a day or two. All the volunteers are so chuffed at the amount raised, especially given the lower estimate.”
Lyon and Turnbull books specialist Dominic Somerville-Brown said: “A few thousand copies would have been printed. At this time Dickens was right at the height of his popularity. Print runs would have been substantial as there was a huge readership. The book would have been read to pieces - so to find a first edition in tact is a rare thing. The amount of copies in a collectable condition that survive today I’d say are not very many. There is a high attrition rate.”
- Are you the generous benefactor? Get in touch with us at alastair.mcneill@reachplc.com
