A signed print by British artist David Hockney, discovered by a volunteer inside a donated book, has sold for £41,160. The artwork was found tucked within a copy of Hockney's "Paper Pools" book at a Salvation Army shop in Norwich, approximately 46 years after the book's publication in 1980.
The print, signed by Hockney and dated 'David Hockney 80,' depicts a diving board and a swimming pool. A volunteer at the Goat Lane charity shop noticed the print when the book was donated over the counter a year ago.
Following research by the Salvation Army Trading Company and its online eBay store, the print was listed for auction. Bidding increased rapidly, resulting in the final sale price of £41,160 to an anonymous buyer.
"I've admired David Hockney's work for many years, so acquiring such an iconic piece is incredibly special," the buyer stated. "I'm delighted that, at the same time, the purchase will help support the invaluable work of The Salvation Army."
Volunteer Jemma Banks described the find as a privilege, noting how the print had remained safely inside the book for nearly five decades. "Paper Pools" details Hockney's iconic swimming pool artworks and his innovative use of colored paper pulp in art creation.
David Hockney, who died last month at the age of 88, was recognized as one of Britain's most influential and celebrated living artists. He rose to fame in the 1960s with his depictions of swimming pools and his career spanned seven decades. In 2018, his painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" sold for $90 million, setting a record for a work by a living artist at the time. His last exhibition, "A Year In Normandie," is currently open at the Serpentine Gallery in London.