One of the glasses worn by Mahatma Gandhi were recently auctioned in the United Kingdom for GBP 260,000 (Rs 2,55,00,463). East Bristol Auctions was the company that sold the glasses to a collector and shared the viral moment on Instagram on Friday.
They revealed that the auction happened online via video calling. The viral moment was shared with the caption, “See the moment Gandhi’s Glasses sell for £260,000 – we found them just 4 weeks ago in our letterbox, left there by a gentleman whose uncle had been given them by Gandhi himself. An incredible result for an incredible item! Thanks to all those who bid (sic).”
There is also an extremely interesting story behind these glasses and how the auction house came across the pair.
Auctioneer Andrew Stowe revealed the story to India Today. The iconic circular glasses were found by the staff of the East Bristol Auctions in their letterbox a few weeks ago along with a note. They were left there by the owner, who is an elderly man from Mangotsfield, a village near Bristol city, towards the southwest of England. He said its “life-changing for his family,” a sum he will split with his daughter.
The glasses were kept in a plain envelope and stayed in the letterbox through the weekend. Stowe said, “It’s a phenomenal result! These glasses have been lying in a drawer for the best part of fifty years. The vendor literally told me to throw them away if they were ‘no good’.”
On doing further research, Stowe realised that the note was correct and it was indeed Mahatma Gandhi’s glasses. Stowe, initially thought that the glasses would be sold at GBP 15,000 (Rs 14,71,180). But much to his surprise, they were sold at Rs 2,55,00,463 to an American collector.
