TWO Lord of the Rings posters are set to fetch up to £6,000 at auction after spending decades gathering dust in an artist's loft. Mystery had surrounded who created the prized posters which celebrated JRR Tolkien's fantasy novel, and copies of the artworks have been selling for hundreds of pounds online. 7 The original poster design for Gandalf signed and dated 1969 Credit: SWNS 7 Count Dominic Bon de Sousa Pernes’ original poster design for Shadowfax, 1970 Credit: SWNS But it has now emerged they were penned by aristocrat's son Count Dominic Bon de Sousa Pernes - who was taught by Tolkien's son at school.

Dominic was commissioned by entrepreneur Jack Drury to create three posters to capture Tolkien's fantasy world while he was an architectural student in Newcastle. They proved a big hit, and still are to this day, but two of his poster designs have languished in his attic for half a century. Dominic, 76, is now parting with his original signed artwork for two psychedelic prog posters - one depicting wizard Gandalf, and the other his fictional horse Shadowfax.

Years later he was stunned when his depiction of Gandalf, based on Da Vinci's 'Old Man' looked remarkably similar to Ian McKellen's character in the hit film franchise. His designs will go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Staffordshire on June 4 with a guide price of £2,000-£3,000 each. Dominic said he was amazed to discover the prints he'd drawn 50 years ago were prized collectors' items changing hands a.