London  - A mahogany desk and walnut chair used by Charles Dickens to write his novel Great Expectations sold for 433,250 pounds - or around 550,000 euros - at auction Wednesday.

Relatives of the British author had bequeathed the furniture to London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for children which Dickens had also supported, and which will benefit from the sale.

The desk dates to the mid 19th century and bears a bronze plaque which reads: "This desk was the property of Charles Dickens and was in use by him at Gadshill when he died. It is the original of the desk shown in Filde's drawing known as The Empty Chair and upon it were written Charles Dickens' last works."

The Irish buyer, Tom Higgins called the purchase "an important piece of literary history", and said it would have pride of place in his home in Wicklow, south-east Ireland.

Auctioneers Christies said the price after "extremely fierce bidding" far exceeded their own expectations after valuing it at only between 50,000 and 80,000 pounds. (dpa)