A COLLECTION of rare book sculptures created for Scottish Book Trust by an anonymous artist dubbed the Bookish Banksy, are to be auctioned online.
For a week beginning tomorrow book lovers will be able to place their bids with fine art auctioneers Lyon & Turnbull, which is selling the five paper creations on behalf of Scottish Book Trust.
It commissioned the sculptures in 2012 to mark the first Book Week Scotland.
The mystery artist, who is known to be a woman, first came to the public’s attention when she secretly deposited her book sculptures around cultural venues in Edinburgh throughout 2011.
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During Book Week Scotland in 2012, the commissioned sculptures – each of which represents a Scottish literary classic – were discovered in different locations around the country by the public.
The classics turned into sculptures are Tam O’Shanter by Robert Burns; Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie; Peter Pan by JM Barrie; Lanark by Alasdair Gray; and Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Scottish Book Trust, which promotes the enjoyment of reading and the importance of literacy, has now decided to sell the intricate three-dimensional paper pieces to fund its ambition to make books available to all.
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The elusive artist has sanctioned the sale of the sculptures. With a starting bid of £800 and guide price of £1000-1500, they will be available to view by appointment at Lyon & Turnbull’s Edinburgh sale room in Broughton Place.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“Many children are growing up without access to books or owning books at home, and since the pandemic the situation has worsened.”
Cathy Marsden, a specialist in rare books at Lyon & Turnbull, who has organised the sale, said: “We hope each sculpture can help Scottish Book Trust provide the gifts of reading and literature which can change lives.”
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