Auction alert: Auction of Books for charity

David Gentleman's London by David Gentleman

There’ll be an online-only auction of books being sold on behalf of the Michael Sobell Hospice charity. It will be held by Chaucer Auctions on Wednesday 2nd November 2022 from 10am.

300 lots of vintage books on subjects such as art & design, fashion & jewellery, music and nature. We’ve selected 8 lots below that we’d love for our own library. Soft and hardback books by illustrators that we admire and have featured here on our blog, including David Gentleman and John Burningham.

Chaucer’s buyer’s premium stands at 19.95% with an added online commission of 3%.

We combine shipping on all lots. Single book £5.99 UK, £7.99 Europe, £9.99 ROW. We can ship a parcel up to 20kg which will take approx. 40 books in UK £12, EUROPE £39.99, ROW, £59.99

Online bidding is also available via Invaluable, Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom. Please check each of these websites individually to find any additional fees that they charge.

David Gentleman's London by David Gentleman

Lot 4: David Gentleman’s London by David Gentleman 1986 First Paperback Edition
Softback Book with 192 pages. Published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

England by John Burningham

Lot 15: England by John Burningham 1992 First Edition Hardback Book
Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy

Lot 21: Industrial Design by Raymond Loewy 1979 First UK Edition Hardback Book
With 250 pages. Published by Faber and Faber Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

British Butterflies and Moths by W Furneaux

Lot 44: British Butterflies and Moths by W Furneaux 1923 Fifth Edition Hardback Book
With 350 pages. Published by The Library Press Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Lots 103 & 104: A History Of Everyday Things in England 1733 – 1942 by M and C H B Quennell 1945 Third Edition Hardback Book
With 214 pages. Published by B T Batsford Ltd some ageing good condition.
A History Of Everyday Things in England 1066 – 1799 by M and C H B Quennell 1945 Eighth Edition Hardback Book
With 224 pages published by B T Batsford Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimates: £6 – £8

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2

Lot 265: The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics 2 Edited by Alan Aldridge 1971 First Edition Softback Book
With 123 pages. Published by Dell Publishing Co Inc New York some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £40 – £60

And Miss Carter Wore Pink by Helen Bradley

Lot 275: And Miss Carter Wore Pink by Helen Bradley 1971 First Edition Hardback Book
With 31 pages. Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd some ageing good condition.
Estimate: £6 – £8

Price Points: Unwanted Christmas presents

Unwanted Christmas presents

Christmas is over for another year, and it’s almost 2022. The clearing away has commenced and, as always, there’s a surplus of ‘stuff’. What do you do with those unwanted Christmas presents? The duplicate copies of books and the clothes & shoes that aren’t to your taste. Well, we’ve looked into it and have found that there are charities that would be over the moon to receive your cast offs.

If you received lots of Christmas cards in the post, before you dispose the envelope into the paper recycling, carefully tear or snip off the stamp. There are lots of charity organisations that accept them as they can sell them on in bulk.

A couple of years ago, Justin’s mum hinted to the family that she’d like to read Bill Bryson’s recently published book, The Body. On Christmas day, of course, she received multiple copies! Book Aid International accept brand new books (not used) which they then pass on to community libraries, schools, refugee camps, prisons and the like in Africa and elsewhere. They are particularly interested in children’s books, vocational, technical & professional text books and African interest books.

Along with toiletries, shoes and clothes are some of the most ‘unwanted’ presents to be received. You can ‘re-gift’ them with a clear conscience by passing them on to a deserving charity. The Air Ambulance Service accept (clean) clothes, shoes, towels, bedding and curtains. You can either drop them off to one of their reuse banks or, if there isn’t one near you, you can post them to them for free.

  1. Used stamps
  2. Unwanted books
  3. Unwanted clothes

what to do with unwanted Christmas presents

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Unwanted clothes
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted books
Unwanted books
Used stamps
Used stamps
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted books
Unwanted books
Used stamps
Used stamps
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted books
Unwanted books
Used stamps
Used stamps
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted books
Unwanted books
Used stamps
Used stamps
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted clothes
Unwanted books
Unwanted books
Used stamps
Used stamps

Christmas gifts of the day: Gifts of Charity

Gifts of charity | H is for Home

Often, when I think about the commercialisation of Christmas, I step back and reflect on all the people who are worse off than us at this time of the year – particularly the homeless, the poor or sick.

There are a few things that can be done at Christmas to try to redress the balance. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank perhaps, visit the lonely at home or in hospital, donate blood… or give the gift of charity.

There are so many charities out there doing good things for people here and abroad – adults and children – helping them have a better Christmas and a better life.

  • Save the Children
    Whether you buy a food basket or a football, each Save the Children ‘Wishlist’ gift helps change the lives of children across the world.
    £7-£158
  • UNICEF
    UNICEF ‘Inspired Gifts’ are real, life-saving and life-changing supplies that they deliver to children and communities around the world.
    £6-£21,590
  • Centrepoint
    Centrepoint is a charity with hostels in London, Bradford and Sunderland, and partnerships all over the UK. They aim to give homeless young people a future and they want to end youth homelessness.
    From toiletries to a bed, a gift can help save the life of a homeless young person this Christmas.
    £5-£2,000
  • Good Gifts
    The Good Gifts Catalogue was born in 2002, a refreshing alternative to conventional unwanted presents. They were guided by 2 commitments: first, that every Good Gift was always wanted. And second when you buy a Good Gift, your money buys the actual gift.
    £5-£5,250
  • World Vision
    Every one of World Vision’s ‘Must Have Gifts’ is an item specifically requested by communities to create better futures for their children.
    £5-£1,900
  • Crisis
    Crisis – Buy a gift and help someone who’s homeless this Christmas

Charity Vintage: A Little Taste of Yorkshire

'Charity Vintage' blog post banner

'A Little Taste of Yorkshire' cookbook for sale on eBay for Charity raising funds for The Prince's Trust (ends 22 Mar, 2015 17:00:11 GMT)

Every so often we feature something in our weekly Charity Vintage series that doesn’t strictly belong in the ‘vintage’ category. This post is one of those times. We’ve chosen it because it features two things close to our hearts – food and Yorkshire.

A Little Taste of Yorkshire is a cookbook produced as part of the The Prince’s Trust Million Makers* nationwide challenge. The team behind the cookbook, from Hallmark Cards based in Bradford, aims to raise £10,000 or more with 100% of the proceeds from the sales being donated to The Prince’s Trust.

The book contains over 45 recipes, including ones from Michelin-starred restaurants The Pipe and Glass Inn in Beverley and The Old Vicarage near Sheffield. I didn’t know until today that Yorkshire has the most Michelin-starred restaurants outside of London!

The book showcases some of the eateries themselves – from the famous fish & chip shop, the Magpie Café in Whitby to Primo’s Hot Dogs in Leeds to Forster’s Bistro and Deli in Bradford… and lots of others in-between.

*The Prince’s Trust Million Makers competition is an entrepreneurial fund-raising challenge which sees talented teams from companies across the country competing to outdo each other, all in the name of charity.