But the two main items - the letter from McCartney inquiring after Epstein's health and diaries detailing his troubled childhood and later struggle to come to terms with his homosexuality - failed to reach their reserve prices.

Lincoln "Chips" Moman with Elvis Presley's guitar

The letter's estimated value was �10-12,000 but only �5,500 was bid. The diaries, valued at between �10-15,000 peaked at �7,500.

The four-page letter was written to Epstein in 1966 or 1967 and is believed to be the first example of a letter between one of the group and their manager to appear at auction.

In it, McCartney apologises for spilling Coca-Cola on the pages, before signing off as The Reverend James Paul McKenzie.

Christmas card

Among the other lots in the collection, put up for sale by Epstein's former chauffeur Bryan Barrett, was a hand-drawn Christmas card from John Lennon, which sold for �5,405.

The card is inscribed with the message "Happy Christian Brian from John" - believed to be an ironic reference to Epstein's Jewish beliefs.

Epstein's 18-carat gold square self-winding watch, valued at �1,500-2,500 fetched �2,820.

Mr Barrett, now 70, claimed he "threw the objects in a cupboard" at the time, but recently decided it would not hurt anyone to make them public as all Epstein's immediate family were now dead.

Also in the sale was a 1957 Gibson Super 400 CES guitar used on all of Elvis Presley's hits between 1957 and 1961.

It was brought over, along with 14 other guitars, by legendary songwriter and producer Lincoln "Chips" Moman.