A rare copy of Emily Bronte’s only novel, Wuthering Heights, owned by her sister Charlotte, is expected to be sold for up to 60,000 US dollars – about £36,000 – when it goes under the hammer in New York.

The original cloth-bound 1847 volume, with pencil notes and corrections written by Charlotte Bronte, will be auctioned from the collection of Hollywood actor-turned-producer William E Self at Christies next month.

It is one of only five copies of Wuthering Heights sold at auction in the past 30 years and is estimated to fetch between 40,000 and 60,000 US dollars, about £24,000 to £36,000.

The book’s lot description on the Christies website reads: “Wuthering Heights is excessively rare in any condition.

“The present set constitutes the most significant copy of Wuthering Heights to have appeared on the market since… 1975.”

The book is part of a three-volume set, which also includes Charlotte Bronte’s own copy of Agnes Grey, written by her other sister, Anne.

The first volume of Wuthering Heights includes pencil notes and corrections, which experts have identified as Charlotte Bronte’s handwriting.

She prepared the text for the 1850 edition of Wuthering Heights, which was published two years after Emily died, aged 30, and a year after Anne died, aged 29.

A Christies spokesman said the notes ranged from changes in punctuation to changes in word choice.

Charlotte’s widower, the Reverend Arthur Bell Nichols, sold the book when he moved from Haworth to Ireland after his wife’s death.

Other manuscripts, letters and first editions of the Bronte’s works will be auctioned at the same time at the Rockerfeller Centre on Friday, December 4.

They are expected to attract bids from across the globe.

The collection is part of the William E Self Library of 19th and 20th-century literature.

Mr Self produced shows from the 1960s and 70s such as M*A*S*H and Lost in Space.

e-mail: marc.meneaud@telegraphandargus.co.uk.