A RARE first edition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ is expected to sell at auction in Wareham for up to £1,200.

It is hoped the book , one of the best-loved Sherlock Holmes adventures, will attract offers from around the world when it goes under the hammer at Cottees Auctions.

Another rare item appearing at the same sale is a signed edition of Thomas Hardy’s ‘Far From The Madding Crowd’, which has an estimated sale price of £200 to £300.

John Condie, of Cottees, East Street, Wareham, said: “The book, which is inscribed in Hardy’s familiar hand in black ink to the front piece, was entered on behalf of an elderly local lady who was clearing her bookshelves and did not know that the book was there until it was noticed by a neighbour who was helping her.”

The message from Hardy reads ‘In the cause of our defenders. Thomas Hardy. August 1915’.

Mr Condie says it is possible the book was inscribed by Hardy at the time as a prize to raise funds for soldiers fighting in the trenches during World War One.

“With a new version of the book due to be released in May 2015, which was once again filmed locally, Far From The Madding Crowd has great local connections,” said John.

The first edition of The Hound of the Baskervilles, set on Dartmoor, is the third of four Conan Doyle novels featuring Sherlock Holmes.

Explaining the book’s £800 to £1,200 estimate, Mr Condie said: “This book often appears on antiquarian booksellers shelves for thousands of pounds and so we would hope that this edition will attract bidders from all over the world.”

The sale takes place at Cottees in Wareham, at 10am tomorrow. It can be followed online at the-saleroom.com