A rare first-edition novel from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic Sherlock Holmes series has fetched £11,520 at auction, after being discovered in an Oxfam bookshop.
The Sign of Four, the second instalment in Sir Arthur’s globally successful detective series, was found at the charity’s Shrewsbury branch before going under the hammer at Bonhams auction house on Thursday.
The novel, which follows the adventures of the eccentric fictional detective, dates back to 1890 and features its original red cloth binding.
The Scottish-born author’s 19th-century creation has inspired numerous adaptations, including the popular BBC TV series Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch. This particular copy also includes a bookplate, revealing that it once belonged to James Burgess Boote of Gwernaffel, Knighton, who served as the High Sheriff for Radnorshire.
Tom Cotton, manager of the Oxfam bookshop in Shrewsbury, commented on the discovery: “The book was donated by a very generous, regular donor who had always been delighted to see his books valued highly and placed in our cabinets. Initially, I could tell the book was special – it was an early Sherlock Holmes story.
“However, when it comes to appraising antiquarian books, I do not have the power of deduction like Sherlock Holmes – I’m more of a Mrs Hudson,” he added, referencing the beloved characters from the famous detective series. “Determining the value was a real group effort.”
Ian Falkingham, of Oxfam, highlighted the impact of such sales: “The proceeds from books donated and sold via Oxfam go directly towards our work – whether that’s delivering life-saving aid in conflict zones or helping to provide clean water for communities that desperately need it.
“A sale like this one is a reminder that extraordinary impact can come from unexpected places, and as Holmes himself knew, the most important evidence is often hiding in plain sight. We’d encourage anyone to donate their books to Oxfam, or come and browse – you never know what you might find.”
