Six previously unheard recordings from the iconic folk singer Nick Drake are to be sold by Ted Owen & Co on July 31 in London.

Drake has become the image of the 'doomed romantic' singer

The tapes come to auction from Beverly Martyn, wife of the late singer John Martyn. They are expected to sell for more than £250,000 ($429,756).

Nick Drake has achieved a cult following among music lovers, but he failed to find recognition while alive, with none of his albums selling for more than 5,000.

His tragic early death (he overdosed on anti-depressants in 1974, aged 26) and painfully shy persona have since earned him an almost mythical status, the epitome of the "doomed romantic".

The recordings were made in the year before his first album, Five Leaves Left, was released in 1969.

Beverly Martyn commented to the Independent newspaper: "He was young, he sounds full of fun, he sounds light and his guitar playing is absolutely excellent. It really shows that he didn't need to have this whole layer cake of strings."

Another track, Restless Jane, was released online last year. It is a collaboration with Beverly Martyn, and was made at her home in 1974, one of the final songs Drake wrote before his death.

With such a cult following and limited output, it's likely that the buyer could find themselves in receipt of a strong collectible for investment. There will certainly be record companies and other parties interested in distributing the tapes.

Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb collection of investment-grade memorabilia for sale.