Hitler's first self-portrait to go under hammer

London, Mar 26: A self-portrait of Adolf Hitler is set to go under the hammer coming Apr. The Nazi leader is hardly recognisable with no moustache in the picture which is thought to be the first he ever painted.

But he identifies himself with the initials 'AH' by his head. The amateurish painting is among 13 works by the Nazi dictator, created back in 1910 when he was just 21.

The small portrait has no nose or mouth, but the side parting hairstyle is unmistakable.

All the pictures were found in Essen, Germany, in 1945 by Company Sergeant Major Willie J McKenna. He sold them to the current unnamed owner, who kept them hidden for decades.

The pictures are expected to fetch tens of thousands of pounds at Ludlow Racecourse, Shrops, on Apr 23.

ANI