'It's extremely possible that I have helped myself': Rudyard Kipling's letter reveals how he plagiarised famous work to create The Jungle Book

Letter, written in 1895, makes reference to famous Laws of the Jungle

Kipling appears to admit he had taken other peoples' ideas for his work



But he says he 'cannot remember from whose stories I have stolen'

A letter written by novelist Rudyard Kipling, in which he appears to admit he plagiarised part of one of his best known works has been unearthed.

The one-page autographed letter, written in 1895, addressed to an unknown woman, makes reference to the famous Laws of the Jungle, included in one of his most famous and well-loved novels, The Jungle Book.



In the letter, Kipling admits it is 'extremely possible' he helped himself 'promiscuously' to others peoples' ideas, but that he cannot remember 'from whose stories I have stolen.'

In his letter written in 1895 (left), author Rudyard Kipling (right) appears to admit it was 'extremely possible' he had plagiarised from other people



The letter is set to be sold for £2,500 at auction.

The author, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907, was at one time believed to be the highest-paid writer in the world.

His works include The Jungle Books, Kim and the Just So Stories.

The letter makes reference to the famous Laws of the Jungle, included in Kipling's well-loved The Jungle Book

The letter, which is being sold by Andruiser Autographs, reads: 'I have been absent from home for some days. Hence the delay in answering yours of no date, in regard to my account of the Law of the Jungle.



'I am afraid that all that code in its outlines has been manufactured to meet "the necessities of the case": though a little of it is bodily taken from (Southern) Esquimaux rules for the division of spoils.



'In fact, it is extremely possible that I have helped myself promiscuously but at present cannot remember from whose stories I have stolen.

'Very sincerely, Rudyard Kipling.'



Autograph expert Adam Andrusier said: 'Letters by Kipling that mention his most enduring work are extremely rare.'

Born in Bombay, Rudyard Kipling was named after Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire, a beauty spot his parents visited.

Kipling was the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, at 42, and is still its youngest ever recipient.



He died in 1936 and his ashes were buried at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.

The Jungle Book is one of the most loved children's books in the English language.



In 2010, a rare proof edition of the classic was discovered that revealed the book was dedicated to his baby daughter Josephine in 1894 who was just one year old. She died just five years later of pneumonia.