A RARE first edition copy of the horror classic Dracula, part of which is set in North Yorkshire, is set to fetch about £10,000 when it goes up for auction next month.

Bram Stoker's gothic tale of Jonathan Harker's brush with the King of the Undead features the town of Whitby in its middle stages, when Dracula's ship is wrecked off the North Yorkshire coast, and the Count comes ashore disguised as an enormous hound.

Auction house Sotheby's, in London, is to sell a rare first edition of the book, autographed by Stoker for William Boyd Carpenter, a former Bishop of Ripon.

The book is signed by the author, and features the inscription: "The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Ripon from Bram Stoker, 31 July 1897". It was signed less than two months after the novel was first published.

Bishop Carpenter was a prolific writer and a lover of drama, according to Sotheby's experts, which was why he struck up a friendship with Stoker, who was well acquainted with North Yorkshire.

Sotheby's staff say they are confident the book will be a big seller, as gothic horror is always popular with collectors.

But vampire fans in Whitby say the book is unlikely to end up there.

Paul Upton, manager of The Dracula Experience, a museum devoted to the tetchy Transylvanian, said: "I'm not sure we'd have room for it here, especially not at £10,000 a pop, but it would be nice if someone round here bought it.

"We're very proud to have some pictures of Stoker, and Christopher Lee's cloak from the original Dracula movie, so we'll leave it at that."

The book is due to be auctioned on July 11, as part of a literature and illustration sale.

- Are you thinking of bidding for the book? If so, ring Nick Hallissey on 01904

Updated: 11:57 Friday, June 21, 2002