IT IS the tale of a Southampton military hero and a Hollywood superstar.

A picture of the 19th century figure affectionately known as Gordon of Khartoum treasured by Oscar winner Charlton Heston could fetch hundreds of pounds at auction in America later this month.

The four inches by six inches Gordon picture – which is mounted on card – was taken in or around 1880 by Southampton and London photographers Adams and Scanlan, and could be worth up to £350.

The photographers worked from offices at 32 High Street and the picture is thought to have been taken when Gordon stayed with his sister, Augusta, at 5 Rockstone Place in Southampton.

Gordon, classed as an historic British hero, is now honoured in the city with a monument in Queen’s Park which was erected on October 16, 1885 to commemorate his life.

Charlton Heston portrayed Gordon in the 1966 film Khartoum and, 50 years later, his photograph is among 320 items which are expected to sell for between £350,000 and £500,000 at Bonhams in Los Angeles on March 22.

Heston’s Gordon photograph features Gordon’s facsimile signature. If the signature were genuine, the photograph would be more valuable, possibly worth hundreds of pounds more.

Major-General Charles George Gordon became a national hero in Britain for his exploits in the Sudan, in Africa, in the mid 1880s.

When a major revolt took place in the Sudan, Gordon was sent to Khartoum to secure the evacuation of loyal soldiers and civilians and to depart with them.

But after evacuating about 2,500 soldiers, Gordon defied government instructions and stayed put in Khartoum, where he and his men ended up being besieged for nearly a year.

Back in Britain Gordon was hailed a hero, but not by the government. Under public pressure the government did eventually send a relief force to Khartoum, but it arrived two days after Khartoum had fallen and too late to save Gordon,who was killed at the age of 51.

Charlton Heston – real name John Charles Carter – was a Hollywood superstar in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and appeared in 100 films including the 1956 epic The Ten Commandments, in which he portrayed Moses, and 1959 movie Ben-Hur, for which he won an Academy Award as Best Actor.

He was 84 when he died in 2008.

Meanwhile, one of Britain’s leading dealers of rare books and manuscripts, London-based Maggs Bros Ltd, has put up for sale a letter written by Gordon at Southampton in January 1881 at £1,100. It is for sale at maggs.com.