A collection of previously unseen handwritten letters written by Morrissey as a teenager, forecasting his future success in music, is set to be auctioned.

The archive, titled 'Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters,' comprises hundreds of pages sent to his Birmingham pen pal Simon Pitt between 1974 and 1979.

These letters reveal Morrissey's early ambitions to become a rock star or actor, along with anecdotes about his attempts to join The Clash and his experiences with punk scenes in Manchester.

Notable items include a letter from 1974 declaring 'My ambition is to be a rock ’n’ roll star or an actor,' and another where he humorously critiques the Sex Pistols.

The auction, organized by Dawsons Auctioneers on August 26, has a combined estimate of over £22,000, with individual lots ranging from £300 to £1,500.

The collection also includes Morrissey's reflections on meeting Patti Smith and visiting New York’s CBGB, as well as his first experience as a band frontman with Manchester punk group The Nosebleeds.The archive offers insight into Morrissey's formative years and the cultural landscape of 1970s Britain.