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'Unique' autograph collection fetches £78k

Dawsons On the top right is a picture of the four Beatles in the mid-1960s. On the bottom right is a piece of paper signed "with love" by all four.Dawsons
A card signed by The Beatles sold for £5,500

A collection of autographs from some of the 20th Century's most well-known figures has sold for more than £78,000 at auction.

A note signed by Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong had the highest selling price, fetching £22,000 when it went under the hammer.

Among the other famous jottings that sold were those belonging to Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley, South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela and all four members of The Beatles.

Peter Mason, of Dawsons auction house in Maidenhead, Berkshire, described the items as a "unique collection".

Dawsons On picture on the right of Mao Zedong talking with another chines official and the then PM of Pakistan. On the right hand side is a sheet of paper with Zedong's signature.Dawsons
Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong's autograph was the highest selling lot

A signed first-edition copy of a poetry book written by The Doors' frontman Jim Morrison was the joint-second highest selling item, going for £6,000.

Selling for the same price was a piece signed by former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who is widely credited for opening his country up to the world.

DAWSONS On the left is the first page of a book saying "To Jamie - Morrison". On the right is the front cover of the book with Jim Morrison on itDAWSONS
A signed first-edition of Jim Morrisons poetry book sold for £6,000

A card signed "with love from" by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr fetched £5,500.

Mr Mason said: "In the modern age of selfies, it is a reminder of the time when autograph hunting could become a life-long passion."

Dawsons On the right is a picture of Bob Marley singing at a mic stand. On the right, is a yellow sheet of paper with the words "One Love, Bob Marley, Wailers" writtenDawsons
Reggae legend Bob Marley's autograph fetched £2,200

The hoard of signatures had been amassed by a German collector, who began buying and trading autographs in the 1980s.

Mr Mason said all of the funds raised would be distributed to charities in the collector's native country.

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