LONDON – A first edition of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”, which had been kept in a bathroom bookcase for years, fetched 103,250 pounds ($171,000) at auction on Tuesday, around twice its pre-sale estimate.

Christie’s auctioneer offered the book at a sale held on the 150th anniversary of the evolutionary work’s original publication.

The copy was bought by the family of the current owners for “a few shillings” over 50 years ago, the auctioneer said.

The vendor’s son-in-law recently visited an exhibition on Darwin where he saw another first edition on display. He realised it was the same work as that in his father-in-law’s guest bathroom, and it was duly offered for sale.

Source: Reuters

A collection of 10 stories about Luton is being launched in an attempt to improve its image after it was voted “crap town” of the year last year.

[via BBC News]

Davis has written a book called “Stanley Ghost Stories,” due out in July. She collected about 50 stories from people who have seen, heard or felt something inexplicable — including the mysterious visitor and the tumbling books.

[via The Daily Reporter-Herald]

Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.

Even before he moved into his 1895 chateau-like mansion, Domine learned he might not be the only person residing there. Despite some frightening encounters with unusual phenomena, Domine, a university professor, remains a skeptic, but that’s an asset. He doesn’t just relate stories told him by others; he’s done hundreds of hours of research in local archives to determine if there’s any corroborative evidence to support their stories. His conclusion? There usually is.

[via The Courier-Journal]

Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.

“It’s only natural that Charlie Carlson would write a book on Florida oddities, because he can spend all day telling tales of the bizarre.”

[via The Orlando Sentinel]