[Rarebooks] FS: E.H. Shepard Original Sketch Books

[Charles Agvent]

SHEPARD, E. H. [Ernest Howard] TWO SKETCH BOOKS with Original Sketches 
by the Creator of Winnie The Pooh when he was a Teenager.
1895-1897. Two small canvas-covered sketchbooks with ties, full of 
pencil sketches and several pen-and-ink drawings by the teen-aged future 
illustrator of Winnie The Pooh. The larger book (7" x 4-7/8") has pencil 
notes and calculations referring to a Cricket match and a note "Shepard, 
EH Sketching Book" in Shepard's hand on the front pastedown. Of the 48 
pages, 42 have sketches ranging from rudimentary to detailed, some 
SIGNED or initialed by Shepard. Two of the sketches are detailed 
pen-and-ink depictions of soldiers at camp. Subjects include a self 
portrait, horses, camels, trains,churches, women, and bridges. The 
smaller book (7-1/4" x 3-1/2"), unsigned but obviously by Shepard, 
contains sketches of some of the same scenes as in the larger book on 35 
of 48 pages--mainly of figures and country scenes including one of a 
churchyard at Wilmington dated 1895. Shepard would have been 16 to 18 
years old at the time of these sketches. Shepard began studying drawing 
at about this time and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy in 1897. 
He began selling his drawings to magazines in 1900 and married a fellow 
student in 1904. His daughter Mary was born in 1909. These sketch books 
were acquired from the estate of E. V. Knox, Mary's husband. Rare and 
extremely early examples of Shepard's work executed in a confident hand 
and showing great promise. We believe these to be the earliest drawings 
by Shepard ever offered for sale. Very Good and quite scarce.  $25,000
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All books subject to prior sale.  Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed.  Postage additional:  $8.00 for the first book, $4.00 each 
thereafter.  Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax.  Mastercard, Visa, American Express and 
Discover accepted.  Books may be returned within 7 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value.  We carry a 
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Literary First Editions, Autographed Books, and Limited Editions Club 
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us with any wants or offerings.  Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
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agvent at erols.com
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