Dr Samuel Johnson letters found in Gloucestershire cupboard

A Chorley House Auctions spokesperson said the current owner of the house was "unaware" of the letter's historical importance

A letter written by the 18th century renowned writer Dr Samuel Johnson has been "tucked away" in a cupboard.

It was found on a routine valuation at the Gloucestershire country house by Chorley's auction specialists.

Dr Johnson (1709-1784) is best known for compiling his famous dictionary - the 'Dictionary of the English Language.'

The letter is to expected to sell for between £8,000-£12,000 at auction next month.

One of the letters written by Dr Johnson were addresses to Sophia Thrale

Also found in the same house was a letter from the 18th century actress Sarah Siddons.

A Chorley House Auctions spokesperson said the current owner of the house was "unaware" of the letter's historical importance.

"The letter was tucked away with others in a cupboard," they said.

Born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Samuel Johnson, usually known as Dr Johnson, was a revered essayist, literary critic, editor, poet, playwright, biographer and lexicographer.

The letters will be sold at auction in September

The letters were found alongside others that had been kept in the cupboard

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography refers to him as 'arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history'.

The letters are of considerable length and also reflect the deep affection between Dr Johnson and a Sophia Thrale, the daughter of Hester Lynch Thrale, a British author and patron of the arts.

This letter had been officially logged as 'present location unknown' for many years.

Chorley House Auctioneers said it is a "complete mystery" as to how the letters came into possession of the family, but they were found with another volume on the Laws of London, signed by Robert Hoare, so one can assume there is a link between the current family and the Hoare banking family.The "exceptional historical correspondence" will be auctioned on 19 September.