Handwritten notes by Mao Zedong auctioned for 704,750 pounds

A collection of exceptionally rare handwritten notes by Chinese communist revolutionary Mao Zedong was auctioned in the UK for a whopping 704,750 pounds, about ten times its estimated price.
The autographed manuscripts that are of the "utmost rarity" reveal Mao's deep continuing interest in classical Chinese literature, Sotheby's auction house said in a statement.
The notes that were valued between 60,000 and 80,000 pounds were written a year before Mao died in 1976.
As Mao's health deteriorated, his sight was failing and he struggled to read.
Therefore, Di Lu, a literary expert and a scholar was appointed to read to him.

Because Mao was having trouble articulating words, Lu asked him to write his thoughts down on a notepad to ease communication, 'BBC News' reported.

The notes were the product of these meetings and offered, "numerous valuable insights into Mao's thinking on literature," the auction house said.
The manuscripts written by Mao were "exceptionally rare on the market, which makes it very difficult for us to estimate them in the first place," Gabriel Heaton, a books and manuscripts specialist from the auction house said.
The notes were bought by a Chinese collector, after attracting interest from around the world, the auction house said.