Two previously unseen preliminary pencil sketches of Winnie-the-Pooh by illustrator E.H. Shepard have been revealed to the public for the first time. Shared by the artist’s family to mark the centenary of A.A. Milne’s classic stories, the drawings depict scenes from the "expotition" to the North Pole and the hunt for a "Woozle" that were never included in the final 1926 publication. These rare works are set to go on display at Peter Harrington Rare Books in London starting April 17.
The discovery of these sketches offers a significant look into the creative evolution of one of literature's most iconic characters. Unlike the finished ink drawings held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, these pencil studies capture Shepard’s raw, initial thoughts on movement and composition. They provide art historians and collectors with a rare glimpse into the "first moment of inspiration" where the visual identity of the Hundred Acre Wood was first established.