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Unseen Winnie the Pooh sketches on sale for first time

Hsin-Yi LoSouth East
Getty Images A cartoon image of a donkey, kangaroo and her joey, a blond boy, a piglet, bear, tiger, owl, rabbit and beaver.Getty Images
As Winnie the Pooh celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, a leading children's literature specialist says the story's enduring popularity is due to AA Milne and EH Shepard's ability to bring the characters to life

Previously unseen preliminary drawings of Winnie the Pooh are to be put up for sale for the first time.

The sketches by illustrator Ernest Howard Shepard, dating from 1926, depict scenes that were never published in the final book, with guide prices between £9,000 to £30,000.

Dr Phil Errington, a leading specialist in children's literature, said that the drawings offered "a rare glimpse into Shepard's creativity at the time when these iconic characters were still being defined".

Shepard was a cartoonist for satirical magazine, Punch, before also becoming an illustrator of Winnie the Pooh.

He had lived in Guildford, Surrey, and died in Midhurst, West Sussex, in 1976, aged 96.

Peter Harrington A pencil sketch of Christopher Robin, Pooh bear, Roo, Owl, Tigger and RabbitPeter Harrington
The sketches are by illustrator Ernest Howard Shepard and date from 1926

The nine sketches, released by Shepard's family, are to be displayed until 27 April at Peter Harrington's rare book gallery in Dover Street, Mayfair, London.

"To be able to obtain preliminary sketches, some of them depicting Pooh in situations that no one has ever seen before, is exceptional," Errington said.

He said that the sketches showed the "first moment of inspiration" for one of the world's most influential works in the history of children's literature.

Peter Harrington A pencil sketch of Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, and other characters.Peter Harrington
The rare collection is to be put up for sale for the first time
Peter Harrington A pencil sketch of Winnie the Pooh characters Christopher Robin who is walking, and of Tigger who is standing behind Eeyore.Peter Harrington
The sketches depict scenes that were never published in the final book

As Winnie the Pooh celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, Errington explained why the children's book remained beloved.

"It is a combination of AA Milne's skill in creating characters and dialogue that is witty, touching and arresting," he said.

"And the story and the characters are exquisitely brought to life by Shepard."

Errington said that Winnie the Pooh was also loved by grown-ups because of the nostalgia and the bear's familiar idiosyncrasies, including his overt love of honey.

He added that adults could often relate to Pooh's simple but profound quotes about life.

Shepard was also famous for illustrating Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (1931) in a new edition.

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