A DAVID Hockney print which was donated to a charity shop by an unsuspecting owner has been sold for £41,160 a month after the artist’s death.
The signed copy of Paper Pools, published in 1980, was given to The Salvation Army’s charity shop in Norwich last year.
Paper Pools details some of Hockney’s most celebrated swimming pool artworks Credit: David Hockney
David Hockney after he redesigned the newspaper’s masthead Credit: PA:Press Association
A charity shop volunteer and local artist Jemma Banks, flicked through the pages of the publication while at work.
She was stunned to find an original print signed by Hockney that had remained tucked safely inside the book for 46 years.
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After the print was researched by the Salvation Army Trading Company and online eBay store, the book was listed for auction on The Salvation Army’s Collectables & Curiosity eBay shop.
Jemma said: “It was a privilege to hold a genuine signed David Hockney print in my hands, and I was amazed that it had remained safely inside the book for 46 years, looking as fresh as the day it came off the lithographic press.
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“As a local artist, I recognised that the book might be something special, but I never imagined just how significant it would turn out to be.
“I’m delighted that something hidden away for so long will now help raise money for people in our community who need it most.”
Published in 1980, Paper Pools details some of Hockney’s most celebrated swimming pool artworks.
The original signed print enclosed within the book made it an “exceptionally rare collector’s piece”, the Salvation Army said.
The charity said bidding “quickly gathered pace”, with the artwork selling for over £41,000.
The Salvation Army has said the buyer, who has asked to remain anonymous, is “thrilled with his purchase”.
The buyer said: “I’ve admired David Hockney’s work for many years, so acquiring such an iconic piece is incredibly special.
“I’m delighted that, at the same time, the purchase will help support the invaluable work of The Salvation Army.
“It’s wonderful to know that something with such cultural significance can also make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.”
Major Tracey Bale, who leads The Salvation Army’s Norwich Citadel and works closely with staff at the shop, said: “Jemma’s knowledge and curiosity made all the difference.
“Thanks to her recognising that this was far more than an ordinary donated book, an incredible piece of art has been preserved and transformed into vital funds for our work.
“Our volunteers see thousands of donations every week, and this story highlights the expertise, care and dedication they bring every single day.
“Every donation matters, and occasionally one arrives that has an extraordinary story to tell.”
David Hockney, one of the most celebrated artists of modern times, sadly passed away aged 88 on June 11.
During his lifetime, Hockney was lauded for his use of different formats, embracing digital art and the use of iPads, which he used to redesign The Jattvibe’s famous “masthead” in 2017.
He trained at the Bradford School of Art in the 1950s, followed by the Royal College of Art in London, where he graduated with gold medal distinction in 1962 and subsequently emerged as one of the seminal talents in the new generation of British artists.
