Chinese Bible sold for £56,000 by Oxfam

A rare Bible, the first ever written in Chinese, has sold for over £56,000 at auction after being donated to an Oxfam shop in Chelmsford, Essex. Initially valued at between £600 and £800, the Bible fetched an astonishing £56,280 following two weeks of online bidding at Bonhams. Oxfam staff were left 'absolutely speechless' by the final price, which will contribute to the charity's efforts to combat poverty and inequality globally. The Bible, translated by John Lassar and Joshua Marshman, was among 23 rare books that collectively raised over £105,000 at the auction. Other notable sales included a first edition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol for £16,640 and a first edition of Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto for £10,880. Oxfam officials expressed gratitude for the donations, highlighting the significant impact of these rare books on their fundraising efforts.