A photograph of a naked Madonna smoking in bed is expected to fetch thousands of dollars at auction.

The black and white image, taken by renowned fashion photographer Steven Meisel in 1990, shows the then 32-year-old singer posing naked on a bed while smoking a cigarette.

In the shot she sports bleached blonde hair and dark eye make-up. Her breasts are exposed and just a white sheet covers her bottom half.

The picture, signed and annotated "Ed no1" and measuring 21.5in by 19in, is expected to fetch over £5,000 when it goes under the hammer at Bonhams in New York on 8 May.

Judith Eurich from the auction house told the Daily Mail: "This is an absolutely stunning image and it is just a beautiful tone of grey. It is not just black and white, it is grey and silvery.

"She was going through a phase of having bleach blonde hair and heavy dark eye make-up that gave her a dramatic look - and of course she has a gorgeous body.

"She is a very healthy person and I'd imagine the cigarette is just a prop to make her look sexy and sultry.

"There are Madonna superfans and devotees across the world who would love to own it."

The image was taken for her controversial 1992 book, Sex, but was never used.

Madonna
This photograph, taken by Steven Meisel, is signed and annotated 'Ed no 1'
New York