Sotheby's to sell the finest single-owner collection of original book illustrations ever offered at auction

"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin." E.H. Shepard, ink drawing (195 by 145mm) Est: £70,000 -£100,000. LONDON.- The finest single-owner collection of original book illustrations ever to appear at auction will be presented at Sotheby’s London on 12th December 2012. The unprecedented collection of over 100 ink and watercolour drawings, featuring illustrations by the finest artists and from the most loved books, comes from the private collection of the renowned film director Michael Winner. Alongside E.H. Shepard’s first depiction of Winnie-the-Pooh with Christopher Robin (from Winnie-the-Pooh), the sale will include illustrations by Edmund Dulac, Kay Nielsen, Beatrix Potter, Arthur Rackham, William Heath Robinson and John Tenniel. In total, the sale will comprise over 150 lots of illustrations and books, and is estimated to realise in excess of £1 million. Michael ... More