SHEPARD. TWO INK DRAWINGS FROM THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER, 1928 (FRAMED AND GLAZED)

i) "Rabbit leant over further than ever…", 138 by 162mm. (sheet 194 by 268mm.), signed "EHShepard" lower left, artist's name and address on reverse (corrected from "Red Cottage, | Shamley Green | Guildford" to "Long Meadow | Longdown"); ii) "Looking very calm, very dignified, with his legs in the air", 94 by 123mm. (sheet 136 by 208mm.), signed with initials "EHS" lower right; both original ink drawings, mounted, framed and glazed, some browning below mount, minor white marks from previous mount below present mount

Sold in these rooms, 16 March 1970, lot 369 ("The Property of a Lady")

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A FINE PAIR OF ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER. THESE ILLUSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION FOR ALMOST FIVE DECADES. Chapter six of The House at Pooh Corner has inspired generations of children (and adults) to play "Poohsticks". The chapter is entitled ‘In which Pooh invents a new game and Eeyore joins in’ for, after Pooh has devised the game and a round has been played with Pooh, Piglet and Rabbit, events take a more disturbing course when Eeyore floats from beneath the bridge.

The first drawing, originally reproduced on page 95 of the published book, shows Pooh, Piglet, Roo and Rabbit eagerly peering over the Poohsticks bridge. As ever, with the reduction of size of the illustration for publication, Shepard's fine lines in this original have become denser and unfocused. There is some delicate shading on Pooh’s head which does not reproduce well.

The second drawing includes a partially erased caption below the mount ("Looking very calm, very dignified, with his legs") and a partially cropped chapter title ("Eeyore joins the Game"). Eeyore, who we learn is not leaping from branch to branch of a young oak-tree or digging holes in the ground, was originally reproduced on page 96 of the published book.

This pairing of illustrations was presumably assembled by the artist and sold in his exhibition at the Sporting Gallery at the end of 1928.