Original Winnie-The-Pooh Illustrations and 1st Edition Moby Dick Following on the heels of the successful sale of a rare Winnie-the-Pooh drawing in its London salesrooms, international auctioneers Bonhams will offer collectors another chance to take home original d
The international attention attracted by a depiction of Pooh, Tigger and Piglet which sold for more than $60,000 at Bonham’s Books sale in London speaks to the public’s enduring love of the little bear. To be offered at this upcoming New York sale are copies of author A.A. Milne’s four most popular books, each including hand drawings by illustrator E.H. Shepard featuring the character Christopher Robin.
Of these lots are a limited edition copy of Winnie-the-Pooh signed by the author and artist dated January 1931, showing Christopher Robin in the bath with Pooh nearby, together with a version of one of the vignettes showing Pooh contemplating an upside-down bathmat (est. $10/12,000). A first edition of When We Were Very Young signed by Milne with numbered illustrations and a signed ink drawing by Shepard (est. $8/9,000) is on offer, as is a limited edition of Now We Are Six, also signed by Milne with a signed ink drawing by Shepard (est. $5/7,000). A limited edition of House at Pooh Corner signed by Milne with a signed ink drawing by Shepard could bring $6/8,000.
These drawings are highly unusual as they were not originally commissioned to be included with these editions, leading specialists to believe that the original owners of the books may have had a personal connection to Shepard -- making each of these lots a rare jewel for collectors.
Another outstanding Pooh lot to be offered is a fine set of first edition copies of each of the four Milne books. With the entire collection in exceptional condition and estimated at $15/20,000, bidding is expected to be fiercely competitive.
Children’s illustration collectors will also be interested in an original illustration from Ludwig Bemelmans -- the artist behind the charming Madeline books. Titled "Madeline in London / Design for stamp,” the 29x21-inch work depicts Madeline and the character Pepito on horseback. Signed "Bemelmans" with an artist’s stamp, the lot could fetch $6/8,000.
However, children’s book illustrations are not the only lots of interest for December bidders. Interest should be deep for a first edition copy of the classic Moby Dick. In exceptionally fine condition, the lot is easily one of the most coveted of the sale. Estimated at $60/80,000, aggressive bidding is expected.
Other stellar first editions to be offered include: a first issue of Lee Harper's To Kill A Mockingbird which includes a photograph of the author credited to Truman Capote on back the panel (est. $6/9,000); a first issue of Ken Kesey's iconic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with a signed and inscribed card by the author and a Kerouac blurb on front flap (est. $3/5,000); a copy of Rudyard Kipling's immortal The Jungle Book (est. $2/3,000); and a scarce separate issue of Alfred Tennyson's poem Timbuctoo which was originally published together with works by C.R. Kennedy and C. Merivale in the 41-page Proclusiones academicae in 1829 (est. $5/7,000).
Theater lovers will have the chance to own a script from the original Broadway production of Death of a
