Strangest item you've seen in a charity shop

MSE_James

Many of us love a charity shop bargain - or just the thrill of poking around for something unusual or eye-catching - as the enduring popularity of the Shop Charity Store in 24 thread shows.

I was in a charity shop on Saturday that had a selection of unopened squeezy bottles of condiments, including Lidl tomato ketchup, being sold at twice the price of the Lidl store 200 yards away.

My experience this weekend led me to wonder - what's the oddest item (or most ambitious pricing) you've found in a charity shop?

Mnoee

I didn't check the price as I wouldn't want this particular item second hand. Spotted in Brighton a few years ago. 

TravellingAbuela

Last year there was a bedpan for sale in my local Sue Ryder charity shop! 

ouraggie

once saw a copy of “The Joy of Sex” in amongst all the cookery books! 

Nelliegrace

A tatty WW2 gas mask in its case. Extremely dangerous blue asbestos and any chemicals the owner might have come across in gas mask practice.  

[Deleted User]

A mounted stuff rat in full jocky outfit riding on a small lizard.
About 5 years ago in a British  heart  foundation  shop in Cardiff.

ShinyStarlight1

[Deleted User] said:

A mounted stuff rat in full jocky outfit riding on a small lizard.
About 5 years ago in a British  heart  foundation  shop in Cardiff.

This made me laugh out loud!!!

DullGreyGuy

[Deleted User] said:

A mounted stuff rat in full jocky outfit riding on a small lizard.
About 5 years ago in a British  heart  foundation  shop in Cardiff.

I used to sit next to this in an old job:



Don't know how much that particular one was bought for but the artist (Polly Morgan) works typically sell for several thousands. We also had another of her's elsewhere in the office that was a taxidermy version of the "Duckrabbit". 

Who knows what a rat jockey could be worth if the right person did it. 

EssexHebridean

I spotted an unopened box of Tampax tampons in one of our local CS's a couple of years ago - a bit of googling revealed the box dated back to the early 90's IIRC. I may still have a photo of it somewhere... 

Eldi_Dos

ouraggie said:

once saw a copy of “The Joy of Sex” in amongst all the cookery books! 

That could have been quite sad to see, maybe the owners had got to the stage were they were downsizing.

annieb64

Not an item but I once saw a charity shop where the books were arranged by "female authors" and "male authors" . I did look to see if there were any George Eliots as was wondering where they would put her novels.