Christopher Robin and Piglet: 'It was the short for Tresspassers will'

Details

ERNEST HOWARD SHEPARD (BRITISH, 1879-1976)
Christopher Robin and Piglet: 'It was the short for Tresspassers will'
signed with initials 'EHS.' (lower left) and inscribed 'Winnie the pooh / p. 32' (lower left) and further inscribed '"It was the short for / Tresspassers [sic] will"' (lower right) and further signed and inscribed 'Ernest H Shepard / Woodmancote / Lodsworth / Sussex / England' (on the reverse)
pencil, pen and black ink on wove paper
7 ¼ x 5 3⁄8 in. (18.6 x 13.9 cm.)

Provenance

with Walker's Galleries, London where purchased by The Carpenter Family, Minnesota, August 1956, and by descent in the family.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Emily Pilling Senior Sale Coordinator

epilling@christies.com +44 (0) 207 389 2151

Lot Essay

The present lot is an unpublished illustration relating to the beginning of the third chapter of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh (1926). Piglet is showing Christopher Robin the sign next to his 'grand house in the middle of a beech-tree'. Robin asks Piglet what the sign means - with Piglets response 'it was short for Trespassers Will'.

Shepard has drawn the illustration with such fluidity; he captures the essence and animation of the pairs' conversation.

More from Valuable Books and Manuscripts

View All