Thrilling find for charity workers

THRILLER writer Dennis Wheatley put Oxfam staff detective skills to the test when one of his books was donated to the Oldham shop.

They had a hunch the nondescript volume, called Unchart-ed Seas, and in its original dust jacket, could be valuable.

The super sleuths found that it was a 1938 first edition and probably worth about £60 to the right customer.

To test their theory, they contacted Calder Valley Auctioneers in Halifax, who put it in their catalogue with a suggested valuation of £100. To their delight it eventually sold for £500 after a bidding battle.

The story took another twist when, on the day of the auction, the Oxfam volunteers found themselves in the middle of filming of an edition of David Dickenson’s ‘Real Deal’ ITV show.

Oxfam manager Gail Jackson said: “There was a bidding battle between a man in the audience, who stood right in front of us, and someone bidding by phone. It was eventually won, with a bid of £500, by the man in the auction room.

“He was from Leicester and had a shop dealing in first editions, and was determined he was not going home without the book. We were very glad.

“Although the book wasn’t featured on the TV show, we were filmed as part of the audience.”

Dennis Wheatley was a prolific author of thriller and mystery novels, who died in 1977 aged 80. His book “Uncharted Seas” was also filmed as “The Lost Continent”.

Gail added: “The volunteers were obviously delighted that their hunch had been proved right in such a spectacular way.

“This is an unusual occurrence and the majority of the books on sale at the Yorkshire Street shop are not of such value.

“However, the sale of books is of great value to those around the world who benefit from Oxfam’s work.

“To keep this work going Oxfam needs a steady supply of books of all types – paperbacks, hardbacks, children’s stories, reference, non-fiction, art books – anything and everything will bring in much- needed funds.

“The local shop relies on the generosity of the public to keep its bookshelves stocked and, at the moment, stocks are the lowest we have ever seen.

“Everyone has a stack of books hidden away on a shelf or in a cupboard that they enjoyed reading but aren’t going to look at again.

“If people would just bring a few books every time they come into town we would be able to keep our shelves full and the funds flowing in for our essential work with those in need.”