An erotic letter sent by James Joyce to his wife Nora has sold at auction for £240,800 sterling, the highest price ever paid for a 20th century letter.
Previously thought lost, the letter, was part of a 30-lot collection being auctioned by Sothebys in London today.
The letter, which had a guide price of £50,000, was written by Joyce in the winter of 1909 after his return to Dublin without Nora for the first time since the couple's elopement.
In the letter, Joyce refers to Nora as a "wild-eyed whore" and describes how he wished to satisfy his lust for her.
Two other letters from Joyce to Nora, written before they eloped from Dublin to Trieste in 1904 were also sold.
One of which addressed to "my sweetheart" just five days before their departure was fetched £84,000.
The collection, which was formerly owned by the writer's brother Stanislaus, contained one of the earliest presentation copies of the writer's book Ulysses.
The book, which was inscribed "To Stannie... Jim Paris 11 February 1922" was sold for £112,000.
Joyce's own copy in proof of the destroyed 1910 Maunsel edition of Dubliners was sold £84,000.
Sotheby's English language specialist, Mr Peter Selley,
said: "The collection is the most important group of items with a family provenance, relating to Joyce's personal life, ever to have appeared at auction."
A pair of Joyce's eyeglasses fetched £10,200 at today's auction.
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