Two signed Gandhi letters to make $17,500 at Sotheby's sale?

Two fascinating signed examples of Gandhi's written correspondence are to be sold at Sotheby's on December 12, along with a plethora of other literary lots.

Ghandi Letters Auction Sotheby's
Gandhi's letters will auction on December 12

A 1922 two page signed letter written in pencil to Dwijendranath Tagore, detailing Gandhi's feelings about his recent imprisonment and expressing pride over "India's wonderful calm at this moment", is estimated to reach £7,000 ($11,149).

Another note containing condolences to an unknown friend is thought to be worth up to £4,000 ($6,370). As well as the pair of personal epistles, a £5,000 ($7,965) estimated rare edition of the Indian constitution is also up for sale.

The sale of Gandhi's personal effects, including the controversial auction of his blood in April, has caused some to question whether or not items connected with Gandhi ought to be involved in financial transactions. Despite this, such artefacts often achieve high prices at auction; his blood selling for $15,940, and his spectacles for $34,000.

Gandhi signed letter
The £7,000-estimated signed letter
to Dwijendranath Tagore

The sale will also showcase a range of literary, film and culturally significant lots, and will appeal greatly to those interested in the preservation of popular culture's textual ephemera.

Other lots of note include a covetable second Shakespeare folio, a first edition of Gulliver's Travels bound in calf skin and a copy of Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte (including six letters autographed by Bronte). At Paul Fraser Collectibles, a range of collectible books and manuscripts are also available for sale.  

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