Uncovered in a crate of old books by staff at Bookbarn International in Somerset, an extremely rare copy of The World Crisis, signed by author, Winston Churchill, has been sold at auction for £2,000.

The book had been signed and dedicated to a Wolverhampton-based doctor, who had attended Churchill’s daughter, Mary – and many years later, had ended up in a local secondhand bookshop.

The shop had closed and all stock had been taken to Bookbarn International at Hallatrow, where it was discovered by staff.

Janey Thornton said: “We were astonished to find the abridged copy of The World in Crisis had been signed by its author, and contained a typed note from his Personal Private Secretary thanking Wolverhampton Doctor, Sidney Dyke, for his services.

“We frequently find all sorts of old papers, notes and even somebody’s wage packet stuck in the middle of our books, but we knew the signed copy was a once-in-a-lifetime find.

“We passed it on to the Dominic Winter Auction House, who valued the book at £1,500. We were thrilled to hear that the book made £2,000 at their auction on December 13th.”

Janey added: “These books reflect the society in which they were published in a way many other objects simply aren’t capable of doing. This is why Bookbarn is such a tapestry of hidden pleasures and delights – with swathes of wise and wild books to be found and enjoyed amongst the stacks and read in front of our log fire. You never know what you might find here!

“The note found inside the book was dated May 26th 1942 – the opening day of the Battle of Gazala in the Western Desert and the day the Anglo-Soviet Treaty was signed in London.

“Despite punishing global trials and tribulations Churchill apparently found time to sign this book and dedicate a personal note to the Doctor who had treated his daughter. It’s really quite extraordinary when you think about it.”