Glasses that once belonged to Mahatma Gandhi have surfaced after they were left in the mailbox of a U.K. auction house.

The BBC reports that the glasses were found in a plain envelope by staff at East Bristol Auctions.

The auction house describes the artifact as “a rare and important pair of spectacles,” noting that glasses were an iconic part of Gandhi’s appearance. “It was known that he would often give away his old or unwanted pairs to those in need or those who had helped him.”

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The lawyer and civil rights leader earned global fame for his role in India’s campaign for independence from Britain.

The glasses are up for auction in the U.K.

The glasses are up for auction in the U.K. (East Bristol Auctions)

It is thought that the seller’s uncle was given the glasses when he was working in South Africa for British Petroleum. “It can be presumed that these were gifted by way of thanks from Gandhi for some good deed,” East Bristol Auctions, explains. “A note from the vendor is included.”

The glasses have a pre-sale estimate of 10,000 to 15,000 U.K pounds ($13,067 to $19,600). The leading online bid on the auction house’s website is 50,000 U.K. pounds ($65,334).

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The auction takes place on Aug. 21.

FILE - In this file photo dated 1931, Mahatma Gandhi talks to a crowd in India.  The Indian independence leader who is considered one of history’s great champions of non-violent struggle, Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times, but never won the honor.  Nobel Prizes cannot be changed or revoked, so the judges must put a lot of thought into their selections, with this year's awards due to be announced over the next two weeks. (AP Photo/James A. Mills, FILE)

Mahatma Gandhi talks to a crowd in India in 1931. (AP)

Statues of Gandhi have sparked controversy in recent years. In 2019, student activists in Manchester, U.K., urged the city to reject a Gandhi statue, citing what they describe as his “well-documented anti-black racism,” according to a BBC report.

In the U.K. city of Leicester, the mayor has resisted calls to remove a statue of Gandhi.

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In 2018, a statue of Gandhi was removed from a university in Ghana over claims of racism.

Fox News’ Peter Aitken and Louis Casiano contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers