Just hours after a rare first edition of The Hobbit sold for £38,400 after being donated to Oxfam in Harborne, a shopper stumbled upon her own hidden treasure at the Birmingham Hospice Superstore on the same street. Kirsty Bosley, a local writer, found an unused Aspinal of London Hepburn Tote bag priced at just £25, a bag that retails for £600 new.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
Bosley had been in her garden on Saturday afternoon, telling friends about the valuable book donation, and had commented that charity shops now use the internet to price items, making it impossible to find true bargains. Later that day, she visited the Birmingham Hospice Superstore at 48-50 High Street, intending to search for overlooked gems.
In the shop, she spotted a ruby red tote bag standing upright. Upon closer inspection, she recognized the quality: heavy leather, gold hardware engraved with a feather logo, and a pristine interior. The bag was an Aspinal of London Hepburn Tote, a brand known for British craftsmanship and fine leathers. A paper tag read £25.
A Stunning Bargain
Bosley had previously admired Aspinal bags in John Lewis, where prices range from £600 to £700. She also found a lime green Zara bag for £8. At the till, the total came to £33. In her excitement, she asked the staff to round up her donation to £40. “Are you sure?” she asked. “This is a really nice bag?” The staff replied, “It is nice, isn’t it!”
After purchasing, Bosley searched online and discovered the bag sells for £600 new and around £260 on the resale market. She told a friend, who offered to buy it, but Bosley decided to keep it. “Not only is it a stunning, functional bag, but it's now this talisman of proof that luck is sometimes on my side and a reminder charity shops still can yield incredible bargains,” she said.
Giving Back to the Community
To alleviate guilt over the bargain, Bosley packed up items she had listed for sale on Vinted to donate to Birmingham Hospice instead. She also shared a donation link for the charity, encouraging readers to contribute if they can. “I'll make it up to them,” she added.
The discovery came just after a rare first edition of The Hobbit, donated to Oxfam on Harborne High Street, sold at auction for £38,400. The book had been donated in a pile of items and was identified by staff before being put on the shop floor.
A Reminder of Hidden Treasures
Bosley’s experience serves as a testament that charity shops still offer incredible bargains. She concluded, “I stepped out on the first day of my life as a 39-year-old with all of the glitz, the confidence and the glamour of someone who could ever possibly afford a £600 handbag!”
