Oxfam shop’s old maps sell for £2,000

11:36am Friday 18th April 2008

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Old maps handed in at Keighley's Oxfam shop have been sold at auction for £2,000.

The items were spotted among stock in a back room of the Low Street premises by volunteer Maureen Yaffey, who realised they could be valuable.

The charity's "Valued at Oxfam" service - which specialises in handling unusual and high-value donated goods - entered the maps into a sale at Bonhams, in Knowle, near Birmingham.

The star lot was a plan of London and its environs dating from 1840, showing the boundaries of the cities of London and Westminster, the metropolitan borough and parishes and distances of principal roads from the general post office.

The document was expected to fetch up to £300 but sold for £1,200.

The second lot included an 1839 survey of the country around London to a distance of 32 miles from St Paul's.

It is not known who handed in the maps at the Keighley shop.

Maureen said: "When I noticed them with other stock it was obvious they were different because of their age and they were in good condition.

"When I heard how much they had raised I was thrilled."

A spokesman for "Valued at Oxfam" said: "Two thousand pounds is literally life changing for many people living in poverty.

"In Oxfam terms £100 can provide essential medicines for a whole village, £50 can pay a trainee teacher's salary for a month - giving children a brighter future - or run a water farm for six months, or support a starting business.

"If you think you may have come across an old or unusual map please get in touch with us.

"A map to be potentially of value needs to be pre First World War but preferably 19th century or earlier and can be of anywhere in the world."

The service can be contacted on 0845 6033647.