An Oxfam charity shop in Chelmsford was left stunned after a donated Bible fetched a whopping £56,280 at auction, surprising both staff and volunteers. The rare text, believed to be the first Bible written in Chinese and dating back to about 1815, was discovered among donations two years ago by volunteers Chris Tyrrell and Eleanor Atac. Shop manager Nick Reeves recounted the astonishment felt by the team as they watched the bidding soar past the estimated value of up to £800.
The Bible, which never made it to the shop floor due to its perceived significance, was part of a collection of 23 donated texts that were auctioned off at Bonhams between March 10 and 20, raising over £105,000. Among the highest selling items were a first edition of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol for £16,640, a Dickens autograph referencing the same book for £12,160, a first edition of Karl Marx’s Manifesto of the Communist Party for £10,880, and a signed copy of Matilda by Roald Dahl for £2,304.
Auction specialist Dr. Lorenza Gay described the Bible as “exceptionally rare” and expressed surprise at the final price achieved, highlighting its standout nature compared to the other lots. Ian Falkingham of Oxfam emphasized that the proceeds from the book sales would be utilized to combat poverty and inequality on a global scale, underscoring the impact of charitable contributions in addressing social issues. The unexpected success of the Bible auction underscored the value placed on historically significant items and their ability to generate substantial funds for charitable causes
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