Winnie-the-Pooh -
A. A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator)
1926 - Methuen & Co. Ltd., London - First Edition
‘On Wednesday, when the sky is blue, And I have nothing else to do, I sometimes wonder if it's true That who is what and what is who.’
A fine first edition of A.A. Milne’s most famous children’s story.
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.
Provenance: Small contemporary gift inscription to ‘Margaret Miller 25/12/26 From Cousin Agatha’ to front free endpaper.
Thin octavo (book size 19.6x13.3cm), pp. xi [3] 158 [2]. Publisher's green cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, front panel with a Shepard illustration blocked in gilt within a single gilt fillet border, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers. Condition: Fine but for some very light toning to spine. Ref: 112524 Price: HK$ 14,000
A fine first edition of A.A. Milne’s most famous children’s story.
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.
Provenance: Small contemporary gift inscription to ‘Margaret Miller 25/12/26 From Cousin Agatha’ to front free endpaper.
Thin octavo (book size 19.6x13.3cm), pp. xi [3] 158 [2]. Publisher's green cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, front panel with a Shepard illustration blocked in gilt within a single gilt fillet border, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers. Condition: Fine but for some very light toning to spine. Ref: 112524 Price: HK$ 14,000