Rabindranath Tagore's notebook sold for $170,500 at Sotheby's auction

A previously unknown notebook of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, containing his poems and other works, dated back to 1928 fetched $170,500 at a Sotheby's auction here today.

The legendary Indian poet-artist's book contained 12 poems and lyrics for as many songs in Bengali, including some heavily amended drafts of his subsequently published works.

The notebook, estimated to fetch $150,000-250,000, was finally sold for $170,500.

Tagore had presented the notebook to a family friend and early patron in the mid-1930s, through whose family it has descended.

Two of the song lyrics in the collection were later included in the dance drama Chitranggada, first performed in 1892 and then modified and extended in 1936.

Three other song lyrics were included in Tagore's three-volume song collection entitled Gitabitan, published in 1931.