PARIS - A COLLECTION of more than 300 books and other objects belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte and his descendants raised more than a million euros on Sunday, said the auctioneers Osenat.

The collection, built up over 30 years by private collector Gerard Souham brought in a total of 1.2 million euros (S$2.32 million), more than the estimated value of between 800,000 and a million euros.

It included objects owned by the legendary French general, his wife Josephine and his descendants Napoleon II and Napoleon III.

Auctioneers Osenat said that 95 per cent of buyers at the auction in Fontainbleau, just south of Paris, had been French.

France's national museums stepped in to buy 14 works, which will go on display in three museums: in Paris, at the Fontainbleau Chateau and at the chateau in Compiegne, north of Paris. -- AFP