A woman who auctioned off papers written by World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing said the documents were almost disposed of before their value was realised. The collection, dating from the 1930s and included a copy of Turing's PhD dissertation, was sold for £465,400 at auction in Etwall, Derbyshire, on Tuesday. Bridget Pitcher, from Newark, said the papers were discovered in an attic by a cousin at her mother's house and included correspondence between the famous scientist and her uncle, fellow mathematician Norman Routledge. "There were a couple of boxes and a few carrier bags and they thought about just shredding it all due to how much paper there was," Ms Pitcher, 68, said. She added: "We had a cousin reunion in November 2024 planned, so they kept hold of the papers and brought them along for us all to go through. "We had a look through and my husband noticed they were Alan Turing related. I had a closer look and found a letter Alan Turing wrote to my uncle, which we knew about. "However, we found more letters including one from Turing's mum to my uncle. Upon further look, we noticed one of the papers had Alan Turing's signature on, so that gave me a bit of a fizzle. "My cousins then agreed I could take them away to investigate." Ms Pitcher said the family "didn't know anything" about her uncle's friendship with Turing, and had "no idea at all" how much the papers would be worth when they took them for valuation. They were given an estimate of "anything from £50-60,000 to £150,000", a price comfortably cleared at the eventual auction. Ms Pitcher said she was "very pleased" to see the papers find an appreciative home. "I'm delighted that they have gone to people who wanted them and can really appreciate them," she said. "The papers are pure math - it was all maths, so it didn't mean anything to me because it was all about maths and at a level that you need to be a pretty good mathematician to understand." Follow BBC Nottingham onFacebook, onX, or onInstagram. Send your story ideas toeastmidsnews@bbc.co.ukor viaWhatsAppon 0808 100 2210.
Alan Turing papers almost shredded before selling for £465,000
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"Alan Turing's Historical Papers Sold for £465,400 After Near Disposal"
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TruthLens AI Summary
A remarkable discovery of papers belonging to renowned World War II codebreaker Alan Turing has unfolded, with the documents nearly being discarded before their true value was recognized. The collection, which includes Turing's PhD dissertation and dates back to the 1930s, was auctioned for an impressive £465,400 at an event in Etwall, Derbyshire. Bridget Pitcher, the owner of the papers, revealed that her cousin found the items in an attic at her mother’s house. Initially, there was consideration to shred the documents due to the large volume of paper. However, the family decided to hold on to the collection for a reunion planned for November 2024, during which they began to sift through the contents. It was during this examination that Ms. Pitcher's husband noticed the connection to Turing, leading to further investigation that uncovered letters exchanged between Turing and her uncle, mathematician Norman Routledge, including a signed document from Turing himself.
The family was previously unaware of the extent of Turing's relationship with her uncle and had no idea about the potential value of the documents. Initially estimated to be worth between £50,000 and £150,000, the auction results surpassed expectations significantly. Ms. Pitcher expressed her satisfaction at the outcome, stating that she was pleased the papers had found a new home with individuals who appreciate their significance. She noted that while the content was purely mathematical and complex, the historical and intellectual value of the documents was undeniable. The sale of these papers not only highlights the importance of Turing's work but also serves as a reminder of how valuable historical artifacts can be rediscovered in unexpected places, preserving the legacy of one of the most influential figures in mathematics and cryptography.
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