The headteacher of a top boarding school has defended the sale of rare Shakespeare and Dickens books found in one of the school's old storerooms.
William Shakespeare's Fourth Folio, from 1685, is one of about 300 books found in Rugby School that will be sold at auction on November 18.
Other rare books include Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, as well as titles written by Daniel Defoe and Aristotle.
The Shakespeare book has an estimate of between £20,000 and £30,000, while a Christmas Carol is expected to fetch up to £4,000.
Author AN Wilson, who attended Rugby School in the 1960s, called the school “complete vandals” over the sale, The Times reported.
However, Headteacher Peter Green told the BBC that the books deserved to be preserved by a specialist and said proceeds back into teaching resources.
"They deserve to be preserved, stored - and enjoyed - in specialist conditions," Mr Green said.
"Secondly, the school is committed, as a registered charity, to use its resources to benefit current and future students.
"Rugby School already operates a generous bursary system. It is entirely fitting that the proceeds from the sale of this collection will go towards extending the benefit of a Rugby education."
Rugby School is known for being the birthplace of rugby. It costs £12,266 per term to board at the school.
In 2018, it was reported that the school had raised nearly £15m by selling a large selection of artwork, with one item fetching more than £11m.
The school is not in any financial difficulty, a spokesman said.
