E.H. Shepard's preliminary Winnie-the-Pooh sketches debut for book centenary at London rare bookseller
The family of E.H. Shepard has unveiled two previously unpublished preliminary pencil drawings for the 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh book. These sketches, created early in the book's development, depict Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, and Owl "climbing very cautiously up the stream" for Chapter VIII, and Pooh and Piglet on a Woozle hunt in Chapter III. Although these scenes are mentioned in A.A. Milne's text, they were not included in the final publication. Beginning April 17, 2024, the sketches will be showcased at Peter Harrington Rare Books in London as part of the centenary exhibition. Philip W. Errington praised the artwork as "very special," emphasizing Shepard's talent for capturing movement.
Key facts
- Two preliminary pencil sketches by E.H. Shepard for Winnie-the-Pooh have been shared for the first time
- The sketches were created for the original 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh book
- One sketch shows Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, and Owl climbing a stream for Chapter VIII
- Another sketch depicts Pooh and Piglet hunting a Woozle for Chapter III
- The drawings were abandoned early in the book's creation process
- The sketches will be exhibited at Peter Harrington Rare Books in London starting April 17, 2024
- The exhibition marks the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh's publication
- Philip W. Errington described the drawings as showing "vibrant creativity" and exceptional movement rendering
Entities
Artists
- E H Shepard
- AA Milne
Institutions
- Peter Harrington Rare Books
- Victoria and Albert Museum
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Dover Street