The Pooh Books - When We Were Very Young; Winnie the Pooh; Now We Are Six; and The House at Pooh Corner - A. A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator) 1924 to 1928 - Methuen &, London - First Editions 'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'

A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound in full morocco leather to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.

I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.
  Winnie was the name of the Canadian Black Bear at London Zoo, befriended by Christopher Robin, and originally the Mascot of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. The Pooh is believed to have come from the name of a royal swan in the park and the two combined by Christopher Robin himself.

Born in Scotland and Cambridge educated, Alan Alexander Milne worked as assistant editor of Punch magazine until the First World War, were he served in France despite being a noted pacifist. Although his son Christopher Robin and wife Daphne were inspirations for
Winnie-the-Pooh, Milne preferred to read them his favourite author Wodehouse. Wodehouse’s favourite author was A. A. Milne.

Shepard’s illustrations were influenced by Growler, his son’s teddy bear. Milne, although reluctant, was advised to use the young Shepard for the illustrations by other members of
Punch. Shepard, after sketching in Ashdown Forest, presented himself uninvited at Milne’s house with his illustrations and won him over.

Octavo, four volumes, pp. [2] x [2] 99; xi [5] 160; [2] [2] 103 [1]; [2] xi [1] 180.
  Finely bound in recent full morocco in their respective published colours, titled and decorated in gilt to spine and boards, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, original illustrated endpapers (except the first volume which was published with blank endpapers) and illustrated cloth covers bound in to each volume at rear.   Condition: Fine in fine bindings and fine slipcase.   Ref: 107660   Price: HK$ 52,000