THE full score of Souvenir d'Amour, signed by its composer Edward Elgar, is expected to fetch up to £15,000 when it is auctioned at Sotheby's tomorrow.

The manuscript, which has numerous revisions and alterations, is stamped "Edward Elgar, Worcester", signed Ed. Elgar and dated July 1888.

"It is one of Elgar's most famous and oft-played works," said a spokesman for Sotheby's.

"As with all great light music, this work has a surface simplicity underpinned by an admirable harmonic and melodic complexity."

Souvenir d'Amour was published in 1889.

The manuscript will appear on lot 52 at the Sotheby's auction, which starts at 10.30am.

Eight unpublished letters written by Elgar to writer and critic Rosa Newmarch will also be auctioned in lot 53 on the same day.

They are estimated to fetch a total of around £4,000.

Elgar was born in Lower Broadheath on June 2, 1857.

He became conductor of the Worcester Glee Club and the County Asylum Band and organist of St George's Roman Catholic Church, Worcester.

He married in 1889 and settled in Malvern.

He died in Worcester on February 23, 1934.