He was East Anglia’s master painter of the 20th century whose equestrian themed work is now coveted by wealthy racing fans.

But whilst his oil paintings command a £1m plus price tag at auction, a unique and less pricey piece of Sir Alfred Munnings memorabilia is set to go under the hammer later this month - his voice.

A very rare recording of the Suffolk born artist reading a poem in 1949 is part of a collection of personal letters and pencil sketches, which provide a fascinating insight into his life.

The collection, which is being sold by a Worcestershire art dealer, is anticipated to fetch up to £10,000 at a Norfolk salesroom because of the high interest from Munnings followers locally and abroad.

The most intriguing and precious lot from the much sought after painter - famed for his horse racing scenes - is a privately produced 78 RPM record where Munnings is heard reciting verses of his own publication ‘The Tale of Anthony Bell - A Hunting Ballard.’

Munnings, with a distinct regional accent, makes a number of mistakes on the scratchy recording and at one point shouts “oh hell” and starts another passage.

Other unique items include a sketch book, which show rough preliminary drawings of some of his most famous oil paintings including ‘Gypsy Life’, ‘Departure of the Hop Pickers’, and ‘Gypsies on Epsom Downs’.

There are also around 150 pencilled letters written to his good friend and fellow artist Maurice Codner, plus press cuttings, catalogues and photos of Munnings relaxing on a Suffolk beach, working in his studio in Dedham, Essex, and playing with his dogs.

Kevin Lines, from Keys Auctioneer’s picture department, in Aylsham, said the collection was one of the most “unusual” lots he had seen and would prove to be very popular in the painter’s home region as well as with online and phone bidders in the US.

visit www.aylshamsalerooms.co.uk for more information.

Posted: 08|17|05 at 11:54 am. Filed under: UK News.