The $2.08 million raised will help to fund four education and training awards.

Mr Lee, who spent about an hour signing the books to help the groups with their fund-raising efforts, said: "I was a little surprised and delighted that despite the poor economic climate, we have got 208 copies sold. That's not bad."

The four education awards, each of which will receive $520,000, are the:

Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medals for best performing graduates from the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University;

Lee Kuan Yew Award for Technology for the top polytechnic graduate in technology;

Lee Kuan Yew Award for Mathematics and Science for GCE O, A level and polytechnic students; and

NTUC Education & Training Fund to help workers pay for self-improvement courses to upgrade their skills.

The first 680-page volume of Mr Lee's memoirs paints a vivid account of his early life, from his school days, to his courtship of Mrs Lee, their secret marriage in England and the events that led to him entering politics, taking up cudgels against the British colonialists.

He recounts the battles he and his colleagues fought against the communists and for the merger of Singapore with Malaysia, and also traces the events that led to the break-up of the federation in August 1965.

The memoirs are published jointly by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), Times Publishing and Simon & Schuster (Asia).

Copies of the book will be sold at $32 each at the launch tomorrow, but unlike the special editions, these will not be autographed. The book will also be available at bookstores from tomorrow.

Among those who bought a copy of the special edition was businessman Feng Jia Quan. He said: "SM Lee is one of Asia's greatest leaders... This is one of my greatest collections, because it has his signature."

Clan leader Zhang Rong added: "I'm buying one copy for the young ones in my family. I hope that they will read it, to emulate SM Lee's fighting spirit and determination."