Pooh sketch strikes auction gold

Updated 10.14 Wed Nov 05 2008
Keywords: Piglet, AA Milne, Tigger, Winnie-the-Pooh, EH Shepard

An original drawing of AA Milne's popular children's characters Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger and Piglet has fetched £31,200 at auction.

The amount, which includes a 20 per cent buyer's premium, comfortably beat pre-sale expectations of up to £20,000, not including the premium.

The oval pencil sketch by EH Shepard, one of children's literature's most famous illustrators, shows Pooh dipping his paw into a pot of honey while sitting at a table as Piglet and Tigger look on.

Auctioneer Bonhams said the successful telephone bidder was from Germany and bought the picture for his wife, a long-time Pooh fan.

On the same day, Sotheby's announced it was offering what it called the finest single collection of Shepard's original drawings for the Pooh books to be sold at auction.

The December sale in London, which also includes a selection of rare Milne books, is expected to fetch between £650,000 and £930,000.

The illustrations, from the collections of Stanley J Seeger and Christopher Cone, are among the most recognizable, including "He went on tracking, and Piglet ... ran after him" depicting Pooh and Piglet turning to each other as they walk away.

It is expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.

Also on offer is "Bump, bump, bump - going up the stairs" featuring Christopher Robin dragging his bear by the leg up the stairs beside him. It is valued at between £50,000 and £70,000.

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