Unused Gloucestershire library stock to be auctioned

Hundreds of books and journals which have been "gathering dust" in Gloucestershire's libraries are to be sold.

The county council said the items included mid-19th Century editions of Punch magazine and Archaeologia journals dating from 1803 to 1923.

A spokesman said they were unused or in a deteriorating state and were not directly linked to the area's history.

It is estimated they will raise between £5,000 and £7,000 at auction.

A council spokesman said the texts, some of which are held at Gloucestershire Archives, had not been used or requested by the public for "many years".

Around 700 items, including topographical works from the 18th and 19th centuries, are due to be sold by the Cotswold Auction Company in Cheltenham on 26 October.

'Rare books'

Trevor Allen, from the authority's libraries department, said they should be "appreciated and properly cared for".

"Even though these items are listed on the public catalogue, nobody is getting any use or pleasure out of them," he said.

"This is an opportunity for museums, other libraries and specialist collectors to get their hands on rare, antiquarian books and for us to raise some funds."

He said a similar sale in February had raised £15,000.

Councillor Antonia Noble, cabinet member for libraries, said the proceeds would go back into the authority's budget.