A BLACK and white photograph of a North-East poet was sold for just under £500 in New York, despite estimates that it would fetch £3,000.

The 1860s' photo of Sir Henry Taylor, from Bishop Middleham, in County Durham, was auctioned by Christie's at the Rockefeller Plaza and experts had predicted it would be a big money-spinner.

Sir Henry was born the son of a farmer in 1800 and worked as administrator in the colonial office until 1872, but wrote plays, prose and poetry throughout his working life.

He became famous for his published work, including The Eve of the Conquest in 1847 and The Statesman in 1836.

The photograph was expected to fetch such a high price because it was taken by one of Britain's greatest female photographers, Julie Cameron.

But despite the notoriety of both the subject of the photo and its photographer, it failed to cause much excitement at yesterday's auction.

The photograph made just £495, with the buyer paying a total of £591 ($956) including auction costs.