The album John Lennon signed for Mark Chapman hours before he killed the Beatles star is set to go up for auction.

Lennon signed the copy of ‘Double Fantasy’ as he left his home in New York on December 8 1980.

Chapman killed the singer when he returned later in the day.

The record, which was discovered by a maintenance man, is expected to fetch up to $850,000.

Auctioneer Gary Zimet told the New York Post: “The album is the most extraordinary artefact in rock and roll history.

“It has Lennon's signature on the cover and Chapman's forensically enhanced finger prints on the sleeve. There are evidence markings from the NYPD.”

The signed album artwork was originally sold in 1999 but has been put up for re-sale.

(by Jason Gregory)