A SIGNED manuscript of one of Sir Edward Elgar's most popular pieces of work could be returning to Worcester.

The eight-page working score of Salut d'amour, which was used for the first publication of the piece in 1889, is due to be auctioned at Sotherby's in London on Friday, May 17.

The manuscript, which is expected to fetch £10,000 at the saleroom, is written in the composer's hand and dedicated to his wife, Alice, in blue ink.

Cathy Sloan, director of Lower Broadheath's Elgar Birthplace Museum, confirmed representatives from the museum would be travelling to London to inspect the score.

But she could not confirm whether or not they would bid for the work.

"Salut d'amour is one of Elgar's best-known and most popular pieces of work, so we'd obviously love to have it..

"We have an extensive archive and display of Elgar material - the largest in one place - so it would be great to add the score to what we've already got.

"It stands to reason that, as Salut d'amour is one of the most popular pieces, it's going to be more money, so, while we'll be examining it, we cannot confirm whether we'll be making a bid or not at this stage," she said.

"Salut d'amour" has been pencilled over the top of Elgar's original title for the piece, Liebesgruss.

The score, written for the violin and piano and published in the autumn of 1889, also has paste-overs showing where the composer changed his mind about some sections.

Dr Simon Maguire, of Sotherby's, said the auction house had already had enquiries about the manuscript, despite releasing the sale catalogue only last Thursday.

"You can see some ink and finger prints from the printer as it was this that was passed to the printer for publication," he said.

"It's particularly interesting, not only because it's in the composers hand, but also because it was used for the first edition."