The personal belongings of renowned cellist Jacqueline du Pré are set to be auctioned next month in Wiltshire, with items expected to attract tens of thousands of pounds in bids. The collection includes handwritten letters, her childhood teddy bear, and other memorabilia that offer insight into the life and career of one of the 20th century’s most acclaimed musicians.

Du Pré, who began playing the cello at age five after receiving the instrument from her mother, performed publicly for the first time at seven. Her career was marked by exceptional talent until it was cut short by multiple sclerosis, a disease that led to her death in 1987.

Hilary Finzi, Du Pré’s sister, explained that many of the items had been stored in boxes and kept within the family for decades. “Unboxing and unwrapping everything brought memories flooding back to us, together with many tears,” she said. “Mum and Dad had kept everything. We had, too.”

Jamie South, an auctioneer with Gardiner Houlgate, described the collection as an extraordinary archive that documents both Du Pré’s rise to international acclaim and her subsequent health struggles. “Through her letters and documents, we see her becoming the most talented cellist in the world and then her tragic decline. It’s heartbreaking stuff,” South said.

The sale is expected to provide collectors and admirers with rare, intimate glimpses into Du Pré’s personal and professional journey.