A WOMAN who bought an old book for £3 in a charity shop has since discovered that it was signed by Banksy and set to sell for
£800.
The internationally acclaimed graffiti artist wrote on the cover of his 2005 book Wall and Piece a dedication to the famous peace protester Brian Haw.
Brian camped out in a tent in Parliament Square for almost 10 years in protest at the British government’s foreign policy, in particular the Iraq War.
Banksy was inspired by Brian to produce a notorious anti-war work entitled ‘CND Soldiers’ which was placed in Parliament Square in 2003.
A second public work, called Petrolhead, was also inspired by Brian’s determination.
Banksy gave Brian a copy of his anti-war book and wrote on the front cover ‘Brian Thanks for being the best inspiration in London x Banksy ! 2005′.
Brian sadly died of lung cancer in 2011 and the book somehow ended up in a charity shop in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
It was bought by a woman for £3 but it was only later on that she realised the significance of the personal inscription.
Bansky’s identity has been the subject of intense speculation over the years, fuelled by his refusal to identify himself.
A new BBC Radio 4 show, The Banksy Story, includes an interview he gave 20 years ago which has only just been rediscovered.
Former BBC arts correspondent Nigel Wrench spoke to the secretive undercover artist in summer 2003 to mark Banksy’s Turf War exhibition in east London.
The journalist is heard asking: “Are you happy for me to use your name? Is it Robert Banks?” The artist replies: “It’s Robbie.”
Bansky stormed the art scene in the late 1990s with a series of stencilled graffiti images often carrying a political or social message.
Among this year’s new additions is a mural in Margate in Kent, showing a 1950s housewife in an apron and washing-up gloves pushing a man into a freezer.
Wall and Piece is now coming up for sale at Eastbourne Auctions and the sale is set to go ahead on Wednesday.
