This original Winnie The Pooh sketch could be worth lakhs; know the story behind it

The Winnie The Pooh sketch that is soon be sold at auction was created on a thin white card that measured 3.5 inches by 6.5 inches and is dated and signed “E.H. Shepard 1958” in the bottom right corner.

Amazingly, the sketch was only recently discovered after Christopher Foyle, the grandson of William Foyle, who co-founded the British bookseller Foyles, contacted British auctioneers to evaluate his belongings.

The current estimate for the sale price of the Winnie The Pooh sketch is between £20,000 and £30,000 (17-26 lakhs INR).

Christopher Foyle’s widow Catherine discovered the drawing, but not in the library, according to Chris Albury, senior auctioneer and valuer at Dominic Winter Auctioneers, who spoke with CNN.

Albury emphasised that it was in a low-quality frame with tape encircling the glass. “The drawing was found wrapped in a tea towel at the back of a drawer in a cellar. It had been forgotten and unloved.”

He added: “I’ve seen reproductions a number of times over the years and I’m usually telling people ‘If it was real, it would be worth a lot of money … but it’s not, it’s worth nothing.’”

But this time was different.

When this Winnie The Pooh sketch goes for sale on September 27, Albury stated that “it’s worth some tens of thousands of pounds”, with collectors from all across the world anticipated to show interest.

In a press release published by the auctioneers, Albury said the drawing is “more valuable than the majority of books on proud display in the fine [Christopher Foyle] library” – which are also offered for purchase.

Regarding how the image ended up in Foyle’s possession, the auctioneers have only been able to make conjectures.

Albury made the assumption that Shepard made this Winnie The Pooh sketch at one of the decades-long “famous” literary lunches hosted by Christina Foyle.

Christina Foyle, the niece of William Foyle, the founder of the bookshop, was Christopher Foyle’s aunt.

The illustration “was carefully drawn though as one can see traces of the pencil underneath the ink which Shepard would then rub out after he completed the drawings in ink,” Albury said in the release. “Presumably, it was never appreciated greatly by her, or Christopher and it is only in the last 20 to 30 years that it will have gained hugely in value.”

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