New York  - A nude picture of Madonna, taken when the queen of pop was a struggling dancer in New York in 1979, is expected to sell for at least 10,000 dollars, auction house Christie's said Friday.

Madonna received 25 dollars in payment for the modelling session, after answering a newspaper ad by photographer Lee Friedlander. The results of the session were published in Penthouse magazine in 1985.

The full-frontal nude print, which is said to be the most revealing of the series, will be sold on February 12 in New York, with many expecting Madonna herself to be among the high bidders.

Also up for sale is a later photo of a lingerie-clad Madonna by Helmut Newton, which is expected to fetch up to 15,000 dollars. (dpa)