16 June 2005

LONDON - A signed first edition of Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' has been sold for GBP 23,800 (EUR 35,800) at auction in London, British newspapers reported on Thursday.

The book, which was sold to an anonymous buyer at Bloomsbury Auctions, was expected to fetch up to GBP 25,000.

It was sold on behalf of a collector and was part of a lot of signed postcards and other stationery from high-ranking Nazis.

The work - which translates as 'My Struggle' - became the bible of National Socialism in Hitler's Third Reich.

The book auctioned late on Wednesday is the first of two volumes.

About 500 copies of the autobiography and political manifesto were originally printed. By 1939 'Mein Kampf' had sold 5,2 million copies and had been translated into 11 languages.

It was provided as a school textbook after Hitler came to power in 1933 and was given to all German newlyweds.

It still cannot be sold in some countries - notably Germany.

DPA

Subject: German news