Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec. 13 (AP): A rare copy of Danish philosopher Soeren Kierkegaard's famed book ``Either/Or'' was auctioned off Tuesday for 170,000 kroner (euro22,800; US$30,200) to a European book collector, an auction house said.

The book, a second edition from 1849 with a handwritten dedication to Danish fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, was sold by the Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers of Fine Art on behalf of an unidentified Danish family.

Auctioneer Sebastian Hauge Lerche declined to name the buyer, saying only that it was ``a European collector.''

Kierkegaard, who lived between 1813-1855, was a major contributor to existentialism and its focus on each individual's responsibility, freedom and fear.

First published in 1843, ``Either/Or'' is considered to be his most important book.

The brief dedication _ ``To the Danish Poet H.C. Andersen with insightful affection'' _ is signed with the name Victor Eremita, a pseudonym used by Kierkegaard for the first two editions of ``Either/Or.''

Both men lived in Copenhagen at the same time, but did not socialize with each other.

In his first book from 1838, Kierkegaard criticized Andersen's work as a novelist, saying he was ``a sniveler.'' Andersen wrote to Kierkegaard several times but received no reply until 1849 when the philosopher sent him the dedicated book.

A first edition of ``Either/Or,'' which Kierkegaard dedicated to his fiancee Regine Olsen, sold for 1 million kroner (euro134,000 (US$177,470) in 2003, Hauge Lerche said.

He said Tuesday's book sold for less because it was a second edition.