Gandhi's iconic glasses fetch $340,000

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A pair of gold plated glasses belonging to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the famous anti-colonial leader from India, left in a Bristol auction house's letterbox, has sold for £260,000 ($340,000). The item had been dropped off in an envelope in late July, Gulf Today reported.

Earlier this month, East Bristol Auctions estimated the glasses would be sold for around £10,000 to £15,000. However, they have now gone for £260,000. 

The auction house posted a video on social media of the moment the glasses were sold for that price. 

"We found them just four weeks ago in our letterbox, left there by a gentleman whose uncle had been given them by Gandhi himself. An incredible result for an incredible item! Thanks to all those who bid,” they acknowledged.

Andrew Stowe, an auctioneer, had explained earlier this month how his Bristol auction house had come across a pair of the assassinated independence leader's glasses. 

He revealed that a man had dropped them off in their letterbox on July 31 but staff only picked them up when they came back into work on August 3.