Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy proved a box office triumph

The set of Tolkien books, including two signed second editions and an unsigned first edition, sold to an anonymous bidder for �2,100.

The rare book auction, at Bonhams in Edinburgh, also included a collection of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

The book, with engravings by Eric Gill, attracted the highest bid of �4,200.

Extensive collection

In total, 3,000 rare books belonging the late William Adams, an accountant who died last June at age 84, being sold.

A 23-volume set of Charles Dickens novels fetched �4,100, while a copy of James Joyce's Ulysses, illustrated by French artist Henri Matisse, sold for �1,500.

Bids for the collection were made from buyers in France, the United States and Japan, as well as the UK.

Adams' niece, Rona Hendry, said the family had no idea of the extent of her uncle's book collection.

"We knew he loved his books," said Hendry, 52. "He collected them as long as everyone can remember, but when we saw them all, we couldn't believe they all got into his house."