In a surprising turn of events, workers at an Oxfam charity shop in Chelmsford were left “in complete shock” when a donated Bible sold at auction for a staggering £56,280. The rare Bible, the first ever written in Chinese, had been dropped off at the store and initially valued at a modest £800.
The discovery of the book came two years ago when volunteers Chris Tyrrell and Eleanor Atac carefully selected it from a pile of donations. Recognizing its potential value, they decided not to place it on the shop floor but instead sent it to auction. The auction, which took place between March 10 and 20, saw the Bible’s price soar well beyond expectations.
Nick Reeves, the shop manager, said the staff were “absolutely speechless” as they watched the auction unfold live, with the Bible’s price escalating from the initial estimate of a few hundred pounds to its final value of £56,280.
The Bible, which dates back to around 1815, was part of a collection of 24 books donated to Oxfam shops across the country. At the Bonhams auction, these books collectively raised more than £105,000, with other notable lots including a first edition of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol which sold for £16,640 and a signed copy of Roald Dahl’s Matilda for £2,304.
Dr. Lorenza Gay, a specialist at Bonhams, explained that the Bible stood out for being “exceptionally rare,” further contributing to its unexpected final price.
The proceeds from the auction will go towards Oxfam’s work in fighting global poverty and inequality, helping to make a significant impact on communities around the world.
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