A signed first edition of Virginia Woolf’s The Waves, discovered in an Oxfam charity shop in Bristol, has fetched more than £25,000 at auction.
The rare volume, published by the Hogarth Press in 1931, was found to bear a unique inscription. On its front free endpaper, it was signed "Virginia Woolf Oct. 1931", coinciding precisely with the novel's original publication month.
Oxfam volunteer Maria Fenner made the significant find, spotting the signature despite the book's faded spine and the absence of its dust jacket. Intriguingly, an original price tag of just 20p was also present inside the cover.
Following thorough checks by teams at Oxfam and Bonhams auctioneers, the book was authenticated as a genuine signed first edition, paving the way for its remarkable sale.
The book, donated to Oxfam’s Cotham Hill shop, sold at auction last week and fetched £25,600, including the buyer’s premium.
Lorenza Gay, specialist in fine books and manuscripts at Bonhams, described the book as “extra special”.
“The Waves is considered by many to be Virginia Woolf’s masterpiece,” she said.
“With such a strong collector base for works associated with the Bloomsbury group, it is no wonder that this signed first edition attracted such interest.
“Moreover, it being signed by Woolf with the date of publication made this copy extra special. We are delighted that it far exceeded it’s estimate, and that it achieved such a great price for Oxfam.”
Ms Fenner, who has volunteered at the shop for four years, discovered the book while checking on donations in April this year.
The book was not donated through gift aid, or processed on the day it was donated, meaning Oxfam is unable to ascertain who donated it or when.
After spotting the signature inside, Ms Fenner recruited fellow volunteer and keen historian Angela Iliff to compare it with authenticated examples and to scrutinise publication dates.
They quickly realised it could be a signed first edition and alerted the rest of the shop team.
Sula Dunne-Prevatt, manager of Oxfam’s Cotham Hill bookshop, said: “When I arrived at the shop, the book was sitting on the corner of a desk with a note saying: ‘Might be fake.’
“The credit really belongs to Maria and Angela. Maria spotted the signature, and they took the time to research it carefully and realised it could be something significant.
“Their attention to detail meant we were able to get the book authenticated and ultimately raise £25,000 for Oxfam.
“It’s a great example of the knowledge and dedication our volunteers bring to the shop every day.”
The Waves features the voices of six characters – three boys and three girls – beginning with their childhood by the sea and following their lives as they grow up.
It was Woolf’s seventh novel, following the publication of masterpieces including Mrs Dalloway and The Common Reader in 1925, To The Lighthouse in 1927 and A Room Of One’s Own in 1929.
Ian Falkingham, Oxfam’s books expert, said: “What makes this discovery so special isn’t just the book – it’s the volunteers who recognised what it could be.
“Thanks to Maria and Angela’s knowledge and attention to detail, this donation has raised more than £25,000 to support Oxfam’s work around the world.
“That money will provide clean water and food in crisis zones, help support people rebuilding their lives after conflict and enable us to respond to disasters, including the ongoing emergency in Venezuela.
“We’re hugely grateful to everyone who donates to Oxfam, and to the volunteers and shop teams whose expertise helps uncover remarkable finds that make a real difference.”
