A RARE first edition that is about to go under the hammer is causing excitement in the book world.

Arthur Ransome's children's book Swallows and Amazons became an instant classic when it was first published more than 70 years ago and is still in print today.

And now a rare first edition has come on the open market - and is expected to sell for several thousand pounds.

The book will be sold at the summer book sale of Tennants Auctioneers of Leyburn on July 25.

In excellent condition, with its original dust jacket well preserved, this book is being sold by a private vendor from Yorkshire.

And a high price is expected - another copy with a stained dust jacket was sold several years ago by a London auction house for 5,000.

A first edition of the second book in the series, Swallowdale, is also being sold at the auction and is also described as in excellent condition.