Winnie-the-Pooh at 100: Rare sketches go on show in Mayfair

"Among the sketches on display are two tentative pencil drawings for scenes that never made it into the finished 1926 book. Shepard's published drawings are so deeply embedded in the cultural imagination that it's easy to forget they were once the product of trial and revision."

"None of the works we are offering here were included in that exhibition. In fact, several of these sheets appear to have been torn directly from Shepard's own sketchbooks. We don't know why they were kept back from the group he gave to the V&A - perhaps he was particularly fond of them, or perhaps they were already given to family members."

The Winnie-the-Pooh exhibition in Mayfair features rare early editions and sketches, marking the 100th anniversary of the beloved books. It includes tentative pencil drawings for scenes that were not included in the original 1926 book. These sketches reveal the creative process of E.H. Shepard, showcasing his trial and revision methods. Unlike much of his work in national collections, these drawings have remained with the Shepard family. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to view these previously unseen pieces, highlighting their special significance.

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