Rare First World War codebook found in donations box sells for four figures
An extremely rare First World War naval secret codebook has been sold for a four-figure sum after it was discovered in an Oxfam charity bookshop.
The valuable General Signals Book, which contains confidential signs used to conduct naval operations, was discovered in a box of donations in the Bath shop.
"It's definitely not every day you handle or sell something of that value," said shop manager Simon Berry, who discovered the codebook.
Mr Berry said: "I found the book at the end of the year among other donations in the back room.
"I knew the book was something to take note of because it had the lead-lined cover, so it looked quite obscure.
"But I don't think we realised quite how special it was until we started getting calls from historians telling us how important it was.
"It felt like you were holding a piece of history in your hands.
"We are so pleased the book has found its way into the right hands with the museum and has helped raise so much money for Oxfam at the same time."
After finding the book, Mr Berry passed it on to retired marine engineer Richard Danns and fellow volunter Stuart Murray, who thoroughly researched the book.
Codebooks were usually destroyed after use, so surviving books are extremely rare.
The National Museum for the Royal Navy in Portsmouth has bought the book for an undisclosed figure.
Heather Johnson, from the museum, said: "Signal books are quite rare as copies were officially ordered to be destroyed when they went out of use.
"This would have been the duty of the officer in charge of keeping the confidential books, who had to send a certificate of destruction back to the Admiralty."
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