Oxfam shop in Bristol auctions rare books for charity

Duret's book contains original pictures by Renoir, Manet and Morisot

A Bristol Oxfam shop could raise £25,000 after several rare and valuable books were donated to one of its shops.

Theodore Duret's Manet and the French Impressionists was given to the charity's store on Queen's Road near Bristol University.

The book, one of 41 lots in total, contains original etchings by Renoir, Manet and Morisot and could sell for more than £1,000 at auction.

They are due to be sold at Bonhams in Oxfordshire on 29 June.

Another book donated to the Queen's Road Oxfam bookshop was John Sampson's Gypsy Folk Tales, with a guide price of £300 to £400.

The book auction comes just months after Oxfam raised £37,000 through the auction of a single book.

We were completely overwhelmed by this extremely generous donation. Michael O'Grady, Oxfam

The item - A Trip to the Highlands of Vitu Levu by Gerard Ansdell - was donated to the Teignmouth Oxfam shop in Devon.

Michael O'Grady, Bristol shop manager, said: "The Manet art book came in amongst a number of books, which were donated around six months ago.

"It was a hugely exciting find, as it is complete with original sketches.

"We were completely overwhelmed by this extremely generous donation.

"I would like to sincerely thank the person who donated it to us."

The auction comes days before the start of Oxfam's Bookfest.

The festival is a two-week celebration of books, authors and reading, with hundreds of events taking place across Bristol and the South West.