Be first to spot the Hirst

Most fans of Damien Hirst, whose artworks often involve spots or sharks and fetch whopping five-figure sums, are reconciled to the fact that the closest they will ever get to owning an original is a £1 postcard from the gallery shop. Next month, however, one lucky - or possibly clever - person will scoop an original Hirst for only £35.

A postcard by Hirst is one of almost 1,000 to be featured in the Royal College of Art Secret exhibition. But the college will not tell you which one it is until after you have handed over your £35.

The key to the exhibition is that while many of the artists featured are top names, most are not - or at least not yet.

Works by former and current students at the RCA will be on sale along with those by the already-famous, and the signatures of all the artists - well-known and yet-to-be discovered, are hidden on the back of the postcards.

It might be a cheap way to pick a highly sought after painting. But those hoping to snap up a valuable work are being advised not to try to be too clever. Organisers say they should instead choose the card they genuinely like and hope for the best.

Emily Sargent, curator of this year's RCA Secret exhibition, said: "It could be an advantage to know the style of a famous artist such as Damien Hirst but that knowledge could also be a disadvantage, as other artists will emulate them. I've encouraged people to pick a postcard that they like, and one that they would like to own and have on their wall."

Hirst will hope his submission reaches the RCA safely. Last week, This Is London revealed that a cleaner threw out one of his works with the rubbish.

This is the eighth year of the hugely popular sale which, in previous years, has seen art-lovers queuing for two days to ensure they get first pick of the postcards.

Similar queues are expected outside the college's Kensington Gore premises when the sale opens next month, while those who want to look without queuing can, for the first time, see the cards on the internet too. The exhibition is sponsored by David Bowie's art website bowieart.com, which will display all the works on offer once the show opens.

Bowie, who is among the artists to have contributed an original postcard, said: "I've had a connection with the RCA Secret event for a good few years now and I am really proud of the association. It has made November one of the months of the year that I really look forward to, and it is nice to scribble for a good reason."