A stunning collection of rare letters and autographs, including items from Lord Nelson, has sold for over £30,000 ($47,947) at Reeman Dansie Auctioneers in the UK.

The auction demonstrates the selling power of desirable autographs

The collection contained over 75 letters acquired by a collector from Essex, UK over a period of more than 30 years. The top seller was a letter written by Lord Nelson in 1804 while aboard the HMS Victory, which sold for £7,000 ($11,187) against a £6,000 high estimate - a 16.7% increase.

The October 12 auction proved the strength of the autograph market, with many items selling above estimate. A letter signed by poet William Wordsworth sold for £700 ($1,118) against a £200 high estimate, making a 250% gain.

A letter from Florence Nightingale that was also valued at £200 sold for £500 ($799) - up 150%.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb collection of Nelson memorabilia for sale, including a fantastic example of his autograph.

We specialise in sourcing the finest autographs. You can view our full collection here.