A collection of Fleetwood Mac memorabilia providing a “unique” insight into the legendary band's rise to fame has sold at auction for more than £20,000.

The archive was gathered by Clifford Adams, 81, who was the British-American rock group's manager, agent and co-songwriter from 1967 to 1974 and sold in Tunbridge Wells.

Described as the “ultimate” Fleetwood Mac collection, it featured more than 300 contracts relating to tours, venues, radio and TV work, gold and platinum discs.

It also included a deeply personal letter from Peter Green, considered one of the world's greatest blues guitarists, detailing his reasons for quitting the band in 1970.

Founding group member Peter told Clifford how he wanted to “remain free of possessions” and said he would be much happier “steering clear of big money”.

Clifford, who was known as Clifford Davis in the music industry, said he had decided to part with the items due to his age.

And the collection attracted worldwide interest when it went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers yesterday – selling for tens of thousands of pounds.

London-born Clifford, who also worked with Beatles manager Brian Epstein, said: “My archive is unique. There has never been anything like this available to buy in the band’s history.

"It includes a postcard I received from guitarist John McVie in 1974 and a letter Peter Green sent me from Hawaii which I’ve kept for 50 years.

"It was the ultimate archive to own for Fleetwood Mac fans or anyone considering writing a book about them. It’s important in terms of the group’s history.

"It was all here - contracts from the band’s first gig through to 1973. You can see how much they earned, where they played, what TV shows they appeared on - everything.

“In 1967 I went to see Fleetwood Mac, fell in love with them and became their agent. A couple of weeks later Peter asked me to be their manager. I said, ‘I’m not a manager, I’m an agent’.

"Peter said, ‘You are now’. He trusted me. We became really good friends. From 1963-68 The Beatles were the top-selling-single artists. In 1969 Fleetwood Mac took that crown.”

The Peter Green letter sold for £2,000 from a £400-£600 guide price while Fleetwood Mac booking sheets fetched £4,400 from a £400-£600 estimate.

A gold disc award for Albatross in recognition of sales exceeding one million sold for £1,700 after being expected to fetch £100-150.

Another gold disc marking over a million sales for single Oh Well fetched £1,300.

Robin Fletcher, manager of Hansons Auctioneers’ Kent saleroom, said: “Fleetwood Mac fans flocked to buy this incredible historical archive documenting the rise to fame of one of the greatest band’s of all time. It sparked a major bidding war and deservedly so.

“Fans had an opportunity to buy items offering an insight into what life was like for the band in the early days and why Peter Green chose to walk away.

"His letter detailing his decision to shun wealth and live a simple life in Hawaii is deeply touching. I hoped it would make £2,000 and it did. Together, the collection hammered at just over £20,000.

“Clifford wanted his memorabilia to find new homes with Fleetwood Mac fans who would appreciate the music and the memories. This sale achieved that. I am delighted for him and also for the successful bidders who secured a piece of Fleetwood Mac history.”