Its explicit language outraged censors and made it nearly impossible to publish for more than a decade. Custom authorities seized almost every copy.

Last Friday, the donated 1936 copy of 'Ulysses' made the front page of the Citizen when it became the most expensive item for sale in Oxfam's South Street shop.

The following day, the story was picked up by a national tabloid newspaper.

Bearing a £1200 price tag, the book aroused a great deal of curiosity from people finding it hard to believe that really was the asking price.
Interest increased following the story in the Citizen.

A local woman arrived at the shop on Monday morning and bought the book as a present.

Oxfam volunteer (books), Iain Brown, said it had been purchased "on behalf of someone who really, really loves books."

He said everyone at the shop was absolutely delighted that it had been sold and the St Andrews donor was also chuffed that the money would be used for Oxfam's work in developing countries.

Iain added: "The Citizen helped us a lot in this, too, and we are very grateful."

It was a profitable day for the charity, with a second rare book from the St Andrews shop being bought for £50 by another lady collector.

Iain said the account of her travels abroad by a female writer had been published in 1838, and was in excellent condition.