Antiques Road Trip presenter Natasha Raskin Sharp was flabbergasted when she found a rare first edition book collection which led her to making a triple profit.
The expert competed with friend Philip Serrell to hunt for bargain antiques and she stumbled upon a set of clothbound books dated back to 1937.
“They are by Virginia Woolf, oh they’re all Hogarth Press, which was her personal press,” Natasha said on the BBC show.
READ MORE: Antiques Road Trip host gobsmacked by huge profit on £10 decanter – despite dropping it
The author was considered the most important modernist writer in the 20th century and she set up the press with her husband, Leonard, in 1917.
(Image: BBC)
She flipped through the pages of The Years and continued: “These have come from one collector, obviously an avid reader…so published by Leonard and Virginia, 1937.”
Natasha paused and gasped after reading a small print on the next page, commenting: “I think that’s a proper first edition.
“I thin it’s a straight-up first edition. Oh that’s so lovely.”
(Image: BBC)
She paid £25 for all eight books from antiques shop owner Irene and sent it to an auction room in Belfast.
Auctioneer Karl Bennett had his eyes on the Virginia Woolf book collection as he explained: “We are seeing a growth in the people who are looking to purchase and collect books.
“That is one lot I expect to do very, very well.”
Before the bidding war started, Karl received a commission bid at £95, leaving Natasha gasping in joy.
It went back and forth in the room and online and the gavel hit at £150, which pocketed Natasha a profit of £125.
She smiled and told Phil: “Oh I’m so pleased. I’m so chuffed.”
Phil congratulated her and added: “Well done Tash! That’s a top result. Well done you, you better lead the way now!”
The huge profit took Natasha to the top of the race – with a total of £308 so far.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
