A RARE BOOK of stories by Aesop, printed in December 1497, was auctioned by Chris Albury of Dominic Winter in Swindon for £16,675.

The book, called Vita et Fabulae, is one of only three copies known to exist in the world, and the only one outside Italy, where it was printed.

Its estimated sale price was £2,000 to £3,000 but the bidding finally closed at £14,500, to which a 15 per cent buyer's premium was added.

The buyer was antiquarian bookseller Quaritch, which is widely regarded as being at the top of its field in the UK.