VOLUNTEERS at a charity shop unearthed a literary gem when they dusted off a book which had lying around the store for months.
The North-East Oxfam workers found a rare first edition copy of Virginia Woolf's second novel, Monday or Tuesday.
The book, illustrated with woodcuts by Woolf's sister, Vanessa Bell, was one of 1,000 printed in 1921.
The book has been valued and is worth up to £1,500 - well over the Newcastle shop's weekly takings.
Store manager Sandy Chadwin said: "We couldn't believe we had been so lucky.
"It looks as though it came from one of our book banks, so we don't know who donated it. It is in excellent condition and will be available for inspection for people who ask.
"We looked on the Internet and found one other first-edition copy which was being sold for £1,600.
"We may put our copy on the Internet as well, so we can reach the worldwide market."
Peter Selley, an expert in antiquarian books for Sotheby's Auctioneers in London, said: "Virginia Woolf's works are very highly collected, particularly in America, because she is one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century in English and there has been renewed interest in the last 30 years in women's literature."
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