A rare first-edition copy of the Samuel Beckett play Waiting For Godot worth up to £900 has been given to the Oxfam shop in Edgware by an anonymous donor.
The 1956 edition of the play was brought into the charity shop in Station Road on Tuesday last week in perfect condition. It is the latest in a long line of rare books staff member Cedric Isaac has landed for the store.
Book expert Mr Isaac said: "This Oxfam shop has a reputation for handling precious books. I am known as someone who won't sell a text for £9.99 if it's worth hundreds of pounds.
"When someone brings something valuable into the branch, I make sure they understand its worth before they leave it as a donation."
A photocopy of the dust jacket of Waiting for Godot has been put in Oxfam's window but Mr Isaac does not expect the book to sell quickly. If it has not been snapped up by September, he plans to advertise the play in The Book and Collector Magazine.
Earlier this year, the shop was given a collection of 12 antique books, with original leather binding, dating from 1646 and worth £3,000.
In March last year the shop received a £900 copy of Northwest Passage, by Roald Amundsen, which was published in 1908.
Key facts:
- The copy of Waiting for Godot originally sold for five shillings and sixpence, roughly 50p
- It is worth more because its dust jacket is intact and it is well bound with no loose pages
- Mr Isaac traced two copies of the same book on the internet, on sale for £950 and £900
August 21, 2002 11:00
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