Darwin book 'to fetch £60,000'

Published on Sunday 22 November 2009 22:12

A FIRST edition of Charles Darwin's groundbreaking book Origin of Species, which languished for years in a toilet, will go under the hammer tomorrow, on the 150th anniversary of its publication.

Christie's auction house said the book, estimated to reach 60,000, was bought by a family for a few shillings in a shop about 40 years ago.

It has since been kept on a bookcase in the guest lavatory at their home in the Oxford area.

Christie's said the son-in-law of the current owners was at an exhibition on Darwin and realised the book was special.