107 RACKHAM, Arthur (illus.); MOORE, Clement C. Three children snowballing. 1931 Original drawings for a perennial favourite Two original drawings published within Rackham’s edition of Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas in 1931. The original line drawings were reproduced across pages 12 and 13. Writing to E. A. Osborne in 1935, Rackham recalled that the limited edition of the book sold out and “there was quite a fight over it. America went very strong for it”. Ink and watercolour drawings generally command higher prices than pen and ink drawings. Rackham, ever the commercial artist, frequently reworked his black and white drawings and, as in this example, occasionally added detail. In this coloured version, for example, the background comprises a ridge of trees which are entirely absent in the original ink drawing. Rackham provides detailed instructions on the framing of the two drawings with a note that reads: “These two can either be mounted separately: or in one mount with two openings: if the latter, the right-hand signature should be covered by the mount”. Each drawing is therefore signed, but one is below the mount, in accordance with the artist’s instructions. Two drawings (176 × 125 mm and 176 × 136 mm) on paper (218 × 136 mm and 220 × 137 mm), laid down on card, ink and watercolour, signed (“Arthur Rackham”) lower left and lower right, with Rackham’s framing instructions below mount, mounted, framed, and glazed (framed size 315 × 415 mm). Some toning to extremities from previous mount, fine and unfaded. £30,000 [154954]
106 RACKHAM, Arthur (illus.); PURDON, K. F. “Irish Fight”. 1927 Original artwork FOR an unrecorded Rackham contribution Published within Nash’s Pall Mall Magazine (April 1927) on page 16 to accompany the short story “Living or Dead” by K. F. Purdon. This Rackham contribution is unrecorded in the bibliographies by Latimore and Haskell, and Riall. The full-page illustration is captioned in the printed version as, “But what did he think to do against that madness and strength! And he only a mortal to contend with what wasn’t ‘right’? That young stranger was never seen after, by any son of man”. On the board and below the mount, Rackham has added a note, “Please keep clean: original to be returned to A. Rackham”. Ink and watercolour drawings generally command higher prices than pen and ink drawings. Rackham, ever the commercial artist, frequently reworked his black and white drawings with additional colour, as here. Original drawing (345 × 260 mm) on paper, laid down on board, ink and watercolour, signed (“Arthur Rackham”) lower right, additionally signed below mount (twice), with “A. R. No 7. Irish Fight” and artist’s signature on reverse, mounted, framed, and glazed (framed size 520 × 430 mm). Light consistent toning. ¶ Exhibited: Scott and Fowles, New York, November 1927, item 7 or 8?; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 5 January – 17 February 1974, item 31. £27,750 [153651]
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
CHILDREN’S BOOKS & ORIGINAL ARTWORK
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