A LETTER written by Karl Marx is being auctioned in Shanghai this month, the first time his correspondence has gone under the hammer on China’s mainland.

It is being offered at the Jianguo Hotel on July 21 on behalf of a Shanghai collector who admires the German philosopher whose works inspired the foundation of socialist countries, including China.

The collector exchanged an ancient Chinese painting for the letter three years ago, said a spokesman for auctioneers the Shanghai Hosane Auction Co.