A RARE first edition of James Joyce’s classic novel Ulysses is set to make thousands of pounds after being discovered in a cardboard box full of bric-a-brac at a house in Wiltshire.

The Dublin-born writer’s classic masterpiece turned up at a home in the cathedral city of Salisbury while the owners were having a clear-out.

The rare book was almost sold for a pittance as the owners decided to dispose of their long-forgotten household goods.

But luckily for them an expert spotted it and correctly identified it as one of only 750 copies printed on handmade paper in Paris in February 1922.

Now the first edition book is set to fetch some £10,000 at local auctioneers Woolley & Wallis when it goes under the hammer on April 5.

And it could fetch even more as a similar copy of the book in slightly better condition fetched almost £67,000 at auction in London two years ago.

Auction house spokesperson Charlotte Heneage said: “The box was full of bric-a-brac for our general sale.

“The book was right at the bottom and was covered in brown paper so it could easily have slipped through unrecognised.”

Interest in James Joyce artefacts has soared in recent years leading to a rise in prices being paid as collectors across the world seek out rare items.

Posted: 03|29|06 at 2:29 pm. Filed under: Collectables.