A rare sketch of Oor Wullie has sold for eight-times its estimated value at an auction in Edinburgh.
The 1938 original illustration of the comic character sitting on his trademark upturned bucket was reckoned to be worth about £500.
A mystery bidder paid £4,400 for the drawing when it went under the hammer.
Auctioneers confirmed the sheet of paper, which also features a sketch from the Broons cartoon strip, would stay in Scotland.
The drawings were done in 1938 by artist Dudley Dexter Watkins.
Alex Dove, a book specialist at Lyon and Turnbull, said they had generated huge interest from both trade and private collectors.
"It is an iconic image and a lovely picture"
She said: "This was an amazing result. We had over 15 phone bidders, the internet and clients in the room bidding frantically.
"We did not expect the sketch to sell for this much, but when you get 30 or 40 people hotly fighting over something, it puts the price up.
"It is an iconic image and a lovely picture."
Lyon and Turnbull spokesman Philip Gregory said the successful buyer bid for the drawing by telephone.
He said "I can't say much more, but the sketch will stay in Scotland."
Watkins devised Oor Wullie and The Broons while working for Dundee publisher DC Thomson.
The character of Oor Wullie is said to have been based on his son.
The sketches previously belonged to a private vendor.
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