A rare portrait of Elizabeth Taylor done by painter Andy Warhol is said to be the leading item that will be sold at Christie's auction of post-war and contemporary art on June 30 in London.

The 1963 portrait called "Silver Liz", which hadn't been seen by the public for more than 20 years, is expected to fetch £6-8 million ($9-12 million), and £54-77 million in total earnings are expected from the two auctions that make up the series.

£55 million was raised by the three strings of post-war and contemporary sales held in February, June and October of last year, underlining the strength in the improvement of fine art prices in recent months that has seen world auction records descend.

Other items up for bidding are "Mappa" by Alighiero Boetti and a map of the world woven by women from an Afghan village, which fit perfectly in the theme of globalization.

Christie's is also selling eight works by the so-called "YBAs" (Young British Artists), including three that were featured at Charles Saatchi's 1997 show "Sensation", which helped launch the careers of Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin, the Chapman Brothers and Glenn Brown.

Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andreas Gursky, which are popular in auctions, will likewise be represented at the sale.