Overview
- A long-serving volunteer, local artist Jemma Banks, found the original signed print tucked inside a donated copy of Paper Pools at the Goat Lane Salvation Army shop after leafing through donations.
- The print had been hidden in the book for about 46 years since Paper Pools was published in 1980, and the Salvation Army called it an exceptionally rare collector’s piece.
- The Salvation Army Trading Company researched and authenticated the item, then listed it on the charity’s Collectables & Curiosity eBay shop where bidding quickly gathered pace.
- The print sold for £41,160 to an anonymous buyer who said they were thrilled by the purchase and pleased that it would help support The Salvation Army’s work.
- The find drew wider interest because the sale came soon after David Hockney’s death and highlights how charity shops use specialist trading units and online auctions to turn unexpected donations into funds for local services.