A rare, first edition of the J.M. Barrie classic, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, has been discovered in an Alderley Edge charity shop.
Katie Robb, manager of the Oxfam Book Shop, discovered the rare book while sorting through a bin bag of donated books and bric a brac towards the end of last week.
The 1906 limited first edition, illustrated with around fifty colour plates by Arthur Rackham, is one of just 500 copies signed by Rackham himself. According to TV antiques expert and local Oxfam supporter, Adam Partridge, the book could be expected to fetch between £600 and £800 at auction.
Katie said "Earlier in the day, a gentleman had come into the shop and asked volunteers if he could leave some bags of donated items.
"He left a few bin bags which didn't look like anything special. I opened one and the first thing I picked out was the J.M. Barrie novel. It's an A3 size book with a cream cover and gilt illustration on the front. And inside are these gorgeous colour illustrations. I knew immediately I'd found something extraordinary. It was very exciting."
The discovery has come at a great time as Katie is involved in organising the local book festival which will take place this weekend, 15th and 16th September, to raise funds for Oxfam.
J.M. Barrie's novel will be included in an auction of rare and antique books, being held as part of the Alderley Edge Community Book Festival, with Adam Partridge, himself, wielding the hammer.
Adam said "I am very much looking forward to conducting the auction as part of the book festival and hope to be able to raise some valuable funds for Oxfam.
"The discovery of this rare copy of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is a great development and it should be the highlight of the auction."
The Alderley Edge Community Book Festival is taking place from 10.30am until 5pm on both Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th September at the Festival Hall on Talbot Road.
See our events calendar for full programme details.
