Book containing King's inscription discovered (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Book containing inscription from King George III discovered

7:00am Friday 15th June 2012 in News By Alexandra Rucki

A book containing an inscription from King George III to Lord Byron's future mother-in-law is going under the hammer after being discovered in a charity bookshop.

The book was found by volunteers in the Oxfam bookshop on Balham High Road, Balham, shortly after the shop opened last year.

They were amazed to find an inscription written on behalf of the king to the future mother-in-law of the famous poet, Judith Milbanke, when they opened the 1743 copy of Handel's Works Vol. 6 Semele.

The book was found in a bag of donations, and the shop has been unable to trace the donor, who they believe was somebody clearing out their house.

It is now expected to fetch £600-£800 at Bonham's auction in Oxford on June 26.

Shop manager Zoe Raymond, 25, of Herne Hill said: "It was part of a very large bag of donations. There were lots of old books from a huge range of time periods.

"It was kind of weird, we thought for ages it was not real - someone else must have just wrote that in.

"The volunteers were really excited and investigated further, looking it up on the internet."

The book's auction listing online reads: "Musick composed in the year 1743, presentation copy from George III, inscribed on his behalf "From The King 1788 to Judith Milbanke."

The charity teams up with Bonham's to sell rare and valuable books donated to Oxfam, with all proceeds going to support its projects.

Other highlights from the auction include a first edition of Samuel Beckett's Murphy, Helmut Newton's Sumo and song books by A. A. Milne.

Despite this generous donation Oxfam is finding the level of book donations has been declining.

A target of 500,000 additional books has been set, which could fund all of the charity's work in Rwanda for a year.

For more information on the auction go to bonhams.com/auction/20138 For information about Oxfam books visit oxfam.org.uk/books Did you donate the book or have any information about the owner? Contact arucki@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 8722 6344