Agencies.-29/09/2013.-A handkerchief with traces of blood that English writer George Orwell (1903-1950) wore when he was shot in the neck during the Spanish Civil War will be auctioned in London on October 3, confirmed Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions. The garment, from 11.2 to 19 inches anb with a small hole, is part of a batch of four patterned scarves and anti-fascist slogans that the author of 'Animal Farm' and '1984' wore during his involvement with the Republican side in the Spanish struggle.
The set of handkerchiefs, which were kept by Hugh Patrick O'Hare, an Orwell fellow in the Independent Labour Party and who sympathized with the famous writer has an estimated value of between 800 and 1,200 pounds (950-1400 euros, 1.280 and 1,920 dollars).
Orwell himself referred in his book 'Homage to Catalonia' ( 1938 ) at the shooting of the May 20, 1937, when he fought with the International Brigades in the offensive of Huesca.
Tissues were kept by O'Hare and eventually ended up in the hands of other members of the now defunct Independent Labour Party as Donald Bateman. His son and current owner found tissues in Bateman's wardrobe after his death, in 2010.
A spokesman for the London auction house, Max Hasler, stressed the uniqueness of the Orwell's personal items, a very private person, so "to have something to do with such a significant part of his life is especially unusual" .
Although George Orwell, whose real name was Eric Arthur Blair, was recovered from the injury suffered, the injury ended up contributing to his death from various ailments in 1950, at age 46.