The book, printed by a private press in the late 19th Century, is expected to fetch about £20,000.

Only 425 copies of the book were ever produced and cost £20 when they went on sale in 1896.

The title was made by the William Morris' Kelmscott Press between 1891 and 1897.

'Superb illustrations'

A spokeswoman for Bonham's auctioneers said: "Fifty-four titles were published by Kelmscott Press of which the Chaucer is by far the most lavish."

The Tales were written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th Century and a copy produced in 1476 is believed to be the first book ever printed in England.

A first edition of The Canterbury Tales sold for £4,621,500 in 1998, the highest price ever paid for a printed book.