A few days ago, on our facebook profile, we published a post with information that the drawing from Winnie the Pooh became the most expensive book illustration ever sold at auction, reaching the sum of £ 430,000 ($ 568.761) at London's Sotheby's.
photo: E. H. Shepard, Original map of Hundred Acre Wood, source: Sotheby's
An ink drawing of the original map of Hundred Acre Wood by E.H. Shepard
which provided illustrations to a series of children's books A.A. Milne,
in the opinion of specialists from the auction house, it is the most recognizable book illustration in the world.
This is the first drawing you will encounter in the book, it looks like it was made by the child's hand and is a visual guide around the world of Winnie the Pooh.
Other illustrations for books about Winnie The Pooh offered at the same auction, due to the fact that they came from a private collection and were not available to the public for nearly 50 years, also achieved record results.
This is a good excuse to introduce you to the first Polish edition of both books by A. A. Milne, of course, containing E.H. Shepard.
Most of you, browsing the Internet, met with the cover of the 1946 issue [or 1948], published by the Wiedza Publishing Cooperative.
However, Wikipedia provides more reliable information:
Both small, small volumes were published by J.Przeworski Publishing House and visually resemble more modern book editions than old books. Originally they were bound in cardboard covered with colored gloss paper.
And their availability? This is an interesting question.
A few years ago, there was a tattered copy of the first edition of the book "On Dwarves and Mary's Orphan" (original: O krasnoludkach i o sierotce Marysi) by Maria Konopnicka from 1896. A book requiring bookbinding, lacking in the text part [and perhaps illustrative] was valued at several thousand zlotys. The legendary book, the "white crow" sought by bibliophiles, who were suspected that no copy could have survived, after all, it was probably the most popular Polish pre-war book for children, so it was read, disrespected. Of course, despite the state of preservation requiring renovation, she found a buyer.
During my several years of activity, I once again met this first edition, with the flushes on my face I proceeded to the auction, but unfortunately I saved, died and still regret solemnly. Sometimes ... mea culpa.
And Winnie, oh this Winnie.
Three times I met Winnie from Przeworski, I was given twice the threshold of his hut. With the exception of one copy, I am greedily acquired, the fate of others is not known to me. Listing archived auction catalogs or the Internet does not bring the desired effect.
And the value of books, you ask? Priceless?
Everything has its price, or measurable value in money.
The set in canvas bindings from the era was valued by us for 15 thousand PLN. After all, these are just printed books, not original Shepard's drawings.
Is it a lot, asked one of regular customers?
And how much does a nice copy of the first edition of "Pan Tadeusz" by Adam Mickiewicz (issued by Alexander Jełowicki, Paris 1834) cost today? - I replied.
Of course, everything is relative. 15, 20 or 25 thousand zł?
So, 15 thousand PLN for two books is not an exaggeration?
And how many copies of the national epic do we have? The first edition of "Pan Tadeusz" had a circulation of 3000 copies, of which, according to various data, about 300 copies survived in Poland and around the world.
And how many times survived Winnie from Przeworski?
With this question I will leave you unanswered ....
"The best of the best", or creme de la creme, "The best of the best" is a section where we present extremely rare things, valuable and wanted prints, real white crows - not only from our offer, but the best on the market.
These books are not usually hosted in the pages of our website, they are not available to the public, but only for carefully selected and affluent clients.
Due to the fact that we have been operating on the antiquarian market for many years, we have extensive experience in acquiring valuable objects. We will help you acquire the most sought after works in Poland.
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