Letters written by young pre-Smiths Morrissey up for auction

Peter Mason, auctioneer and senior valuer at Dawsons, said: “What struck me most was just how funny Morrissey is.

“Running through almost every letter is a wonderful sense of humour and genuine warmth that makes him an incredibly endearing character.

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

“Through his observations on punk, music, politics and everyday life, the letters offer a vivid snapshot of the changing British music scene and political landscape during the 1970s while documenting the emergence of a remarkable young talent long before the rest of the world knew his name.”

With The Smiths, who were completed by Marr, bass player Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, Morrissey was one of the pioneers of British indie rock in the 1980s.

They achieved three UK top 10 singles, and were best known for songs such as This Charming Man, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, and How Soon Is Now?