Item 24 consists of four drawings of “The Tail is Lost.” This is when Eeyore loses his tail, but first checks around, disbelieving at first. Eeyore turns left, then right, and then looks underneath, before finally concluding that his tail is, indeed, gone. £50,000 (US $77,503).
Item 29 is perhaps the most familiar drawing of all. It comes from the final page of Winnie-the-Pooh. It is the one where Christopher Robin climbs the stairs to his room, dragging Pooh – bump, bump, bump – behind. £150,000 (US $232,455).
Item 61 consists of two photographs of Christopher Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh. Not the fictional ones, but the real Christopher and Pooh, along with Christopher's real grandfather, John Vine Milne, who ran a private school. It is from around 1927, which would make Christopher Robin about seven years old. Christopher actually looks more like his depiction in the books than does Pooh. Shepard based his drawings of Pooh on a Teddy Bear he had, rather than the one possessed by Christopher. £2,950 (US $4,571).
Item 32 is a copy of the first trade edition of Winnie-the-Pooh with the best possible provenance. It is Christopher Robin's copy. Milne has inscribed it to his son:
For Moonest Moon
and Poohest Pooh
From their adoring
Bluest Blue.
As noted earlier, Christopher pronounced his last name “Moon” when very young, and his father's nickname was “Blue.” 200,000 (US $309,920).
Peter Harrington may be reached at +44 (0)20 7591 0220 or mail@peterharrington.co.uk.
