A Signed David Hockney Print Sat Hidden Inside a Charity Shop Book for 46 Years and Just Sold For Thousands

There are many notable stories of people discovering lost treasures among donations made to charity shops and second-hand stores. While most donations generate tens of dollars at most, there are a small number of items that turn out to be worth thousands. That was the case of a discovery made in a charity shop in the U.K. when a signed print by celebrated British artist David Hockney was discovered hidden away in book.

The Salvation Army’s Goat Lane shop in Norwich doesn’t seem like the kind of place where a priceless piece of art would turn up, but the one-sheet piece that was discovered tucked inside a donated book went on to sell for over £41,000 – certainly more than the book itself would generate.

The book was a copy of Paper Pools, Hockney’s 1980 book that details his famous works on swimming pools. It seems that among the printed artwork in the book itself was an action print signed by the artist, which has been unnoticed inside the volume for over four decades. The artwork was noticed by a local artist, Jemma Banks, who is a long-serving volunteer at the shop, and recognized the additional piece for what it was. “It was a privilege to hold a genuine, signed David Hockney print in my hands,” she said, going on to note that the print was “as fresh as the day it came off the lithographic press.”

After being authenticated by The Salvation Army Trading Company, the book was listed on the charity’s Collectables & Curiosity eBay shop. As all the money raised goes back to the charity, what started out as an unexceptional book anonymously donated with numerous other items ended up being one of the most generous donations the shop has ever received.

Why the Timing May Have Pushed the Price Higher

While any signed piece by an artist will draw a lot of attention, there is a certain poignancy to the timing of the discovery that may have helped push the sale price even higher than it expected. Hockney died at his London home on 11 June 2026 at the age of 88, prompting tributes from across the art world and beyond. King Charles III described Hockney as “a giant of the world of art and painting.”

The death of any major artist usually sees a surge in interest in their available artwork. Prices for authenticated originals can soar in price as pieces exchange hands. The timing of this auction around a month later will certainly have been helped on its way past the £40,000 mark by the sad passing of its creator.

None of that changes the heartwarming charm of the story. The discovery of a genuine piece of art by a world-renowned artist that has spent the best part of half a century between the pages of a book is a story is the kind of feel-good story that does not come around often enough. Now the auction that came because of the find has helped to add a large sum to a good cause to boot. If nothing else, it is a strong argument for checking those second-hand books just a little more carefully before you put it away on a shelf of in a box. You never know what could be hiding inside its pages.

(featured image: PA Archive)

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