AN 'extremely rare' signed copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf has been sold at auction in East Lancashire.

The blue cloth-covered 1935 edition bearing the Nazi dictator’s signature on the front fly leaf fetched more than £17,000 at the sale in Clitheroe yesterday.

The swastika-embossed book had been expected to fetch more than £1,000 before the auction at Silverwoods in Lincoln Way. The book price for the item was between £1,000 and £1,500

It was presented to former BBC and Oxford Mail journalist Peter Cadogan during a visit to Munich in the late 1930s.

It was sold on behalf of Mr Cadogan’s son, who is now said to be very ill.

Auctioneer James Thompson, a militaria expert who said he thought the book would fetch no more than £2,500, said some people 'wouldn’t touch anything Nazi with a bargepole', but others believe the book should be preserved, despite Hitler’s appalling reign.

He said: “In a way, it’s a way to touch a monster.”

Mein Kampf, which translates as My Struggle, was first published in 1925 and sets out Hitler’s political ideology and plans for Germany.

The copy sold is thought to be especially rare because Hitler was known to resist signing documents of any kind.

Mr Cadogan senior had been acquainted with Unity Mitford, a member of Hitler’s inner circle of devotees. It was she who asked Hitler to sign it for him.

Mr Thompson said: “Hitler didn’t sign books. It wasn’t something he did.

“He did it this time on the request of Unity Mitford. You can almost see him putting his eyes to the ceiling.”

A spokesman for Silverwoods in Clitheroe revealed that the item, which was in a 'very good condition', had been bought by an internet bidder, whose identity would not be revealed.

She said: “We are extremely happy with the price fetched and obviously for the vendor too.”

She said the firm handled items of such huge interest probably every two years or so.

The spokesperson said militaria sales were 'taking off'.