Letters written by the young pre-Smith Morrissey up for auction

Peter Mason, auctioneer and high valuer at Dawsons, said: “What struck me was how funny Morrissey was.

“Running through every letter is a wonderful sense of humor and genuine warmth, which makes him an incredibly endearing character.

“Aside from the witty and unmistakable literary voice that would later become synonymous with Morrissey, the correspondence captures Britain at a fascinating moment in its cultural history.

“With his observations on punk, music, politics and everyday life, the letters provide a vivid snapshot of the British music scene and politics of the 1970s, documenting the emergence of a remarkable young talent long before the rest of the world knew his name.”

Along with The Smiths, who completed The Smiths, bassist Andy Rohr and drummer Mike Joyce, Morrissey was one of the pioneers of British indie rock in the 1980s.

They have had three UK top 10 singles, including the best-known such as This Charming Man, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now and How Soon Is It Now?