Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic glasses go on sale in UK
A "rare and important" pair of iconic glasses worn by Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi look set to sell for tens of thousands of pounds after a British auction house put them up for sale on Monday.
The gold-plated spectacles were stuffed through the letterbox of East Bristol Auctions in southwest England last Friday, with a letter attached saying, "these glasses belonged to Gandhi, give me a call," auctioneer Andrew Stowe told Sky News.
"The spectacles formed an important and somewhat iconic part of Gandhi's overall appearance,...a rare and important pair of spectacles," the auction house's website said of the lot.
Gandhi used to give away valuable items like gold to people who were in need or helped him someway. The talismanic non-violent protestor gave the glasses to the vendor's uncle while he was working for British Petroleum in South Africa during the 1920s or 30s, said the auction house.
An auctioneer found them last Monday when he reopened for business after the weekend.
The item is due to go under the hammer on August 21, but has smashed expectations with online bidding already up to £50,000.
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