In 1980, a signed Hockney print went inside Paper Pools; 46 years later, Norwich volunteer Jemma Banks found it, and the Salvation Army raised £41,160

A signed print that was created by British artist David Hockney was sold for £41,160 after a volunteer discovered it inside a donated copy of Paper Pools at a Salvation Army charity shop in Norwich, England. Jemma Banks is a long-serving volunteer and local artist who spotted the print while examining the book at the shop on Goat Lane. The publication had been donated in 2025, and the artwork had remained inside it for 46 years, with the Salvation Army subsequently listing the item through its Collectables & Curiosity eBay shop. The winning bidder chose to remain anonymous, and paid more than £41,000 for the find, with the charity confirming that the proceeds would support its community work.A donated book contained an original signed printBanks recognised that the donated publication might be valuable when she examined it at the shop and she found an original print bearing Hockney's signature inside, with the artwork remaining tucked between the pages rather than being displayed or stored separately. The Salvation Army Trading Company researched the item before it was listed for sale online, after which bidding gathered pace, and the final price reached £41,160. The charity did not disclose the winning bidder's identity.The buyer told the Salvation Army that he had admired Hockney's work for many years, and had also welcomed the opportunity to support the charity through the purchase. Banks said that she had been amazed that the print had remained inside the book for so long, and described it as looking as fresh as when it came off the lithographic press. Her experience as a local artist helped her recognise that the donation needed to be examined closely, although she had not expected the eventual sale price. Major Tracey Bale leads the Salvation Army's Norwich Citadel, and credits Banks's knowledge with helping the organisation identify the artwork.How Hockney Made Paper PoolsHockney's Paper Pools series started with experiments on colored paper pulp rather than conventional ink, and he worked with printmaker Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics in New York during 1978 and 1979, with paper pulp being used to build images of swimming pools, reflections and water. The process involved placing colored paper pulp into molds, then pressing and drying it to form the finished works, and Hockney used the method to create different textures and color effects. Paper Pools was published in 1980 and became one of his notable experiments in printmaking.What was inside Paper Pools?Hockney's Paper Pools was published in 1980, and the book is associated with the artist's work that involved swimming pools and paper pulp, which was a subject he explored during his career in painting and printmaking. His official bibliography lists Paper Pools among his publications for 1980, alongside David Hockney: 23 Lithographs 1978–1980, which was published by Tyler Graphics Ltd. Hockney’s work spanned painting, drawing, photography and printmaking, and his pool imagery became an important part of his career, and prints that were produced in editions could circulate among collectors, while individual copies might remain in private collections for decades.Hockney died at home on June 11, 2026, aged 88, according to ITV News Anglia, with the auction taking place the following month, although the reporting does not establish whether his death affected the bidding. The sale produced £41,160 for the Salvation Army’s charitable work, and for Banks, the find began with an ordinary donated book that needed to be observed with a closer look. The identity of the buyer remains private, and the charity has not announced where the print will be kept.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.