A book lover has described feeling like she accidentally scammed a charity shop after discovering the staggering true value of a haul she purchased for less than the price of a single paperback.
The Incredible Charity Shop Find
May Pelham visited her local charity shop, a common hunting ground for bargain hunters, and left with six books for a total of roughly £8.50. The social media user, who shared her story on TikTok in January 2026, insisted she even tried to warn the volunteers that the books were worth significantly more, but they refused to accept extra payment.
"I did tell them. I did say, 'Look, these actually cost this much, I can pay more.' They said no," May explained, admitting she felt she had "accidentally scammed" the establishment.
Breaking Down the Bookish Bargains
Her haul consisted of a mix of modern classics and highly sought-after special editions. She began with a paperback of Stephen King's The Stand, which she snagged for just 99p compared to its typical £12 retail price.
The real treasures, however, were in the limited editions. She purchased a deluxe special edition of Katabasis by R.F. Kuang for £1.50. This Illumicrate exclusive, complete with sprayed page edges and a display box, originally sold for £27. Due to its rarity, copies now fetch over £60 on resale sites like eBay.
Another £1.50 secured the American hardback of Kuang's Babel, a book currently retailing on Amazon for around £12.50. She also found a signed hardback of Alexandra Bracken's Lore for the same price, with signed versions online priced between £25 and £56.
A signed special edition of Sunyi Dean's The Book Eaters, also with sprayed edges, was another £1.50 find. Similar copies are listed on eBay for up to £70.
The Crown Jewel of the Collection
The most astonishing find was a signed hardback copy of Emilia Hart's Weyward. While May didn't disclose the exact price, assuming it was also £1.50, one eBay seller was attempting to sell an identical copy for a staggering £125.
"Somebody was trying to sell this for £125 on eBay. Is it that deep? Am I holding literal treasure right now?" she wondered in her video.
Totalling the highest potential resale value of each book, May's £8.49 investment could be worth an eye-watering £323. Five of the six books were hardbacks, including three signed copies and two special editions.
Reaction from Fellow Book Lovers
The online reaction to her haul was a mix of awe and envy. Many commenters shared their own dreams of stumbling upon such finds in charity shops, with one person writing, "I always hope and dream I'll find a special edition in the charity shops. So far, I've been out of luck."
Another posted, "I am so jealous of that Katabasis edition. I love books and can only afford to buy from charity shops," highlighting how such discoveries can make collecting accessible. The story serves as a thrilling reminder of the potential hidden gems waiting on charity shop shelves, offering hope to bargain hunters and bibliophiles across the UK.
