The order to block the auction was given by a New York Supreme Court Judge on Tuesday, after the pop star said she was “shocked to learn” of her personal items being sold.

Apart from a letter written by Tupac to Madonna, there was also a hairbrush with traces of the singer’s hair and a used pair of underwear.

“The fact that I have attained celebrity status as a result of success in my career does not obviate my right to maintain my privacy, including with regard to highly personal items,” Madonna said.

The Material Girl singer said she had “no idea” the items were no longer in her possession, including the letter in which Tupac, then her former boyfriend, said he split with her due to race issues.

“For you to be seen with a black man wouldn’t in any way jeopardise your career, if anything it would make you seem that much more open and exciting,” the letter reads.

“But for me at least in my previous perception I felt due to my ‘image’ I would be letting down half of the people who made me what I thought I was.

“I never meant to hurt you.”

The letter and the other two items were to be auctioned on the Gotta Have Rock And Roll website later this month.

Court papers said the Tupac letter was expected to fetch up to $400,000, and state Madonna’s former friend and art consultant, Darlene Lutz as the person behind the sale.

“I understand that my DNA could be extracted from a piece of my hair. It is outrageous and grossly offensive that my DNA could be auctioned for sale to the general public,” Madonna said.

A spokesman for Lutz and the auction house said the decision will be “vigorously challenged and refuted” in court, after the singer alleged the items were taken while she was “not in residence”.

“Madonna and her legal army have taken what we believe to be completely baseless and meritless action to temporarily halt the sale of Ms Lutz’s legal property,” spokesman Pete Siegel told the New York Post.

“We are confident that the Madonna memorabilia will be back.”