Hundreds of old and rare books which paint a picture of the fascinating history of Bradford are to go on sale.

There are so many that two days have been set aside to dispose of the collection at The Bradford Club in the city centre’s Piece Hall Yard.

They are from the library of a collector from the Bradford area and are being sold by booksellers Andrew Sharpe and Adam Yates.

There is a rare Ibbetson Directory of Bradford from 1845 which lists all the tradesmen and merchants, public institutions, professional people and all the streets.

“This is an extremely rare and valuable book, especially to social historians. It’s a snapshot of Bradford at the time,” said Mr Sharpe.

“But what makes it more collectable is the letter still inside from Bradford writer William Scruton, offering the book for a shilling – 5p – to a Bradford solicitor in 1913. Even then it was rare.”

The men run Grove Rare Books in Bolton Abbey, near Skipton, and bought the collection of some 2,000 books last August.

Mr Yates said: “It has to be seen to be appreciated. It includes work by many familiar Bradford authors from the 19th and early 20th century and books on many of the towns in the area.”

The sale will take place on Friday, February 27, between 2.30pm and 7pm and Saturday, February 28, between 10am and 4.30pm at The Bradford Club, Piece Hall Yard, behind the Wool Exchange.

For more details telephone (01756) 710717 or antiquarian@groverarebooks.co.uk.