Signed copy of Frankenstein found by chance sells for over £350,000 Before this find, there had been only one other known signed copy of the novel. The other copy is housed at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. Jay had a keen interest in books, and is now employed at Peter Harrington Rare Books in London. When he realised what he held in his hands, he took the book to Richard Ovenden, the deputy librarian at the Bodleian Libraries, in order to authenticate Shelley's signature. "Although books have always been the building blocks of my life, I never considered becoming a book collector in earnest, let alone a book dealer as I now am, until I stumbled across this volume," Jay said Jay and his step-grandmother decided to put the book up for auction and it was sold last Autumn by Peter Harrington. Althought the final sale amount won't be released, it is known that the asking price was £350,000. Only 500 copies of Frankenstein were printed in 1818 and around 25 were kept by the author to present to friends. After Byron's death in 1825, the remains of his library were given to his friends, including his exectuor John Cam Hobhouse. There was a sale of his library in 1827 and this book was not one of the items offered. Famously, the novel was written after Lord Byron suggested a short story competition when on holiday with Shelley and her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1816. Inspired by a waking dream, the novel tells of Victor Frankenstein, who creates a human being out of bits of human cadavers. The book was bought by a UK collector, who will allow it to be exhibited in public. See peterharington.co.uk