Last year, I found Volume 2 of the 1932 edition from The Odyssey Press in a charity shop for just €0.50 [1]. At home I discovered a round paper sticker with the words 'Buning' and 'Djokja'. It seems it either was sold in Yogyakarta are belonged to someone who lived there [2].
The best find yet was from oxfam in Winchester - Arabian Nights, numbered and signed by Dulac, 1914 edition - £2, as the spine was (had it restored) damaged.
Oh, and a rather nice Moxon Idylls of the King, same shop a few months later, which I think was £25.
Both are worth a fair bit, but I’ve no intention of parting with them.
Non-literary works… a tiny watercolour by Nolde, gallery stamped and all, for £5. That, I sold at auction as I’m not much of a fan of his, and it paid for the renovation of a cottage.
I think these days they’ve largely wised up, but I still can’t resist a delve whenever I go by a charity shop.
Winchester’s second oxfam was a goldmine, as was their municipal dump - got a lovely set of late 18th c. Anglo-Indian rosewood dining chairs for a nominal sum at the latter, which took me all of an afternoon to bring back to life. Broadstairs in Kent I also had some great finds.
It’s to do with the local populace - elderly, wealthy, and often lacking inheritors - and then they staff in the shops being just parochial enough to have no idea what they have.
Big cities, forget about it, you’re more likely to win the lottery.