A rare third edition of The Origin of Species – the famous book written by Shrewsbury-born naturalist Charles Darwin – is to be auctioned in his home town later this month.

The book, published in 1861 and valued at up to £1,500, has been consigned to a collective auction at Shropshire fine art auction house Halls on August 21.

Mike Skelton, 73, a retired plant breeder from Nantwich, Cheshire, is selling the rare edition.

He paid just one shilling and six pence for it nearly 40 years ago from a second-hand bookshop in Warrington as he was swotting up on genetics and breeding. He said the value of his book never dawned on him until he watched David Attenborough on TV.

“He said he was lucky enough to have a sixth edition of The Origin of Species because they were so rare,” said Mr Skelton. “I decided to check my book and was amazed to find that it was a third edition.”

Having read Halls was selling Darwin’s letters in his home town, he thought Shrewsbury was the best place to sell the book.

Mr Skelton said: “Darwin was an amazing man and the amount of work that he did was incredible.

“When you read the book and his life story it makes you wonder how on earth he found the time to do all the things that he did.”

Darwin developed the controversial theory of natural selection and his Origin of Species was first published in 1859.

Last week, three framed letters, including one signed by Darwin, sold for £4,800 at Halls.

For details about the sale, call Halls on (01743) 284777.