ALDRIDGE, Alan

Sir Maximus Mouse

London: , 1973. The Cheese Tycoon At Home in the Cheddar Bank Original Art From "The Butterfly Ball" ALDRIDGE, Alan. Sir Maximus Mouse. Original Art, Plate No. 19 from The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. [London], 1973. 25 x 19 1/4 inches (64 x 49 cm) matted and glassed in frame; oval image 18 x 12 1/2 inches (46 x 31.5 cm). An original airbrushed acrylic painting illustrating a character from artist Alan Aldridge's modern children's classic, The Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper's Feast, with verses by William Plomer and nature notes by Richard Fitter, originally published in London by Jonathan Cape, 1973. It is one of twenty-eight illustrations created for the book. Accompanied by a first edition copy of the book. That huge new block, in EC4, Of the Cheddar Bank they built last June Has a secret fat, on the fourteenth floor, For Sir Maximus Mouse, the Cheese Tycoon. There he sits in his cozy room With a ticker-tape, in view of St. Paul's To watch how the market rises and falls. His whiskers twitch at the hint of a broom, His whiskers droop at the hint of a slump in his Hundred-and-twenty super-companies. As a cat will watch a mouse, he stares At the ups and downs of shocks and shares, A prince among mice and millionaires. "Knock, knock," says the grandfather clock, "Money's not all, money's not all - He has quite forgotten the Butterfly Ball!" Alan Aldridge (1938-2017). Once dubbed "Beardsley in blue jeans", Aldridge was an English artist, graphic designer and illustrator. He first worked as an illustrator at The Sunday Times Magazine. After executing some freelance book covers, he became the art director for Penguin Books. In 1968 he established his own graphic-design firm, INK, which created imagery for the Beatles and their Apple Corps. He was responsible for a great many album covers during the 1960s and 1970s, influencing the graphic style of the period. His work was characterized by flowing, cartoon-like designs with soft airbrushing. He is possibly best known for the children's illustrated book, The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast, a series of illustrations of anthropomorphic insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with William Plomer. It was based on William Roscoe's poem of the same name but was motivated by John Tenniel's assertion to Lewis Carroll it was impossible to draw a wasp in a wig. Aldridge also created the artwork for Elton John's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975). Judi Dench and Michael Hordern narrate Sir Maximus Mouse.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9FgR_fr5HI. .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 02535

Catalogue: Original Art

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Original Watercolor Painting from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. Santa Being Hijacked LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An original watercolor painting from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." (Faber, 1987). [Santa being hijacked]. Image size: 16 3/8 x 11 1/2 inches. [Page 22]. "It was as though, in some strange way,/I saw in one extraordinary day/A miniature kaleidoscope/Of human lunacy and hope -/A well-matched pair, like man and wife,/Who stick together all through life./"In Africa, a dreadful drought/Cut all our drinking water out./In Mexico, it was so hot/Three reindeer fainted on the spot./In Russia, were stiff with ice./In Cuba, we were hijacked twice." Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (1931-2021) was an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 04152

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Original Pen, Ink and Monotone Drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. Santa's Home LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An original pen, ink and monotone drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." [Santa's Home]. Image size: 7 3/4 x 10 inches. [Page 4]. "Our story starts on January One./A Brand New Year has just begun./Another Christmas has been kept./For one full week, the elves have slept,/Recovering from the Yule before,/And gathering strength for one Yule more." Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). He currently lives in the United States, and is married to actress Yvonne Romain. .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 04153

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Original Pen, Ink and Monotone Drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. Santa's Shampoo LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An original pen, ink and monotone drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." "Santa's Shampoo". Image size: 6 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches. [Page 26]. "They asked me if I'd go on TV?/And would I vote for GOP?/And would I use this new shampoo?/(They'd pay me lots of money to)." Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). He currently lives in the United States, and is married to actress Yvonne Romain. .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 04154

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Original Black and White Silhouette Drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. The Poor Old Reindeer Did their Best LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An original black and white silhouette drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." Image size: 5 x 11 3/4 inches. [Page 8]. "The poor old reindeer did their best,/But one got sick in Budapest/And very nearly wrecked the run/Of Christmas, 1881./But Santa stuck him in the sleigh,/And somehow coped with seven that day." Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). He currently lives in the United States, and is married to actress Yvonne Romain. .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 04155

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Original Pen, Ink and Monotone Drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. Santa's Job Back Then Was Fun LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An original pen, ink and monotone drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." Image size: 4 1/2 x 11 3/4 inches. [title-page vignette and page 5]. "The world has changed, there is no doubt,/Since Santa's reindeer first set out,/In crystal skies and sparkling snow,/So many thousand moons ago./And Santa's job back then was fun./The year, let's not forget, was One". Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). He currently lives in the United States, and is married to actress Yvonne Romain. .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 04157

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Original Black and White Silhouette Drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. T'was not the best of Christmas Eves" LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An original black and white silhouette drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." Image size: 5 1/4 x 16 1/4 inches; 133 x 412 mm. [Page 24]. "My trip across the USA/Did not exactly make my day./In Pittsburgh, I was mugged by thugs./In Boston, stopped for smuggling drugs./And New York's toys were snatched by thieves./'Twas not the best of Christmas Eves."" Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). He currently lives in the United States, and is married to actress Yvonne Romain. .

David Brass Rare Books (ABAA/ILAB)Professional seller

Book number: 04908

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

LE CAIN, Errol; BRICUSSE, Leslie

An Unused/Unpublished Original Pen, Ink and Monotone Drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride.

London: , 1987. An Unused/Unpublished Original Pen, Ink and Monotone Drawing From "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." LE CAIN, Errol, illustrator. BRICUSSE, Leslie. An unused/unpublished original pen, ink and monotone drawing from "Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride." Image size: 5 1/2 x 11 3/4 inches. Santa on his sleigh, full of gifts, being pulled along by six reindeer. Matted, framed and glazed. In 1986 Leslie Bricusse showed David Brass a poem that he had written entitled Christmas 1993 or Santa's Last Ride. It described how difficult Santa's job of delivering gifts around the world had become in these modern times. David, who had known Leslie for many years, had the idea to create a book from the poem and introduced Errol Le Cain to Leslie Bricusse. The book was published in 1987 - unfortunately Errol Le Cain died just before the publication date. It was his last work. Errol John Le Cain (5 March 1941 - 3 January 1989) was a British animator and children's book illustrator. He won the 1984 Kate Greenaway Medal for Hiawatha's Childhood (Faber & Faber), recognizing the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. Descended from a French-Canadian great-grandfather, Le Cain was born in Singapore but evacuated to Agra, India with his mother and other relations the following year to escape the Japanese invasion. His father was captured and interned in Changi Prison. Returning to Singapore after the war, he attended St.Patrick's Catholic school. With no formal art education, his talent was nevertheless evident from an early age, Le Cain was fascinated by cinema and made his first animated film, The Enchanted Mouse, with a friend's 8-mm camera at age 11. His next work, The Little Goatherd, was created with a 16-mm camera at age 15. This came to the attention of agents for British film distributor Pearl & Dean, who offered to pay his passage to London that year (1956) to pursue a career in animation for film and television. In 1965, Le Cain joined Richard Williams's animation studio and worked on a wide range of animation projects, including film titles for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Casino Royale, and The Charge of the Light Brigade. His most important work with Richard Williams was for the unfinished (1964 to 1992) animated film The Thief and the Cobbler. Le Cain turned freelance in 1969, working on sets for BBC television productions, continuing with animation projects, and beginning his career as a children's book illustrator. Le Cain's first children's illustrations were published by Faber and Faber in a story he'd originally storyboarded for film, King Arthur's Sword (1968), which began a long association with Faber that continued to his death. His first book "made me aware of the scope and possibilities of children's book illustration, and now I am convinced this is the medium for me". Le Cain wrote 3 and illustrated 48 children's books during his lifetime, recognized for their richly decorative watercolours and masterful command of design and colour. His self-authored works were King Arthur's Sword (1968), The Cabbage Princess (1969) and The White Cat (1973). He was commended for the 1969, 1975, and 1978 Greenaway awards before winning the 1984 Medal and was commended again for 1987. The four commended books were The Cabbage Princess; Thorn Rose, or the Sleeping Beauty based on the version related by the Brothers Grimm; The Twelve Dancing Princesses, retold from the Brothers Grimm; and The Enchanter's Daughter by Antonia Barber. Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright, most prominently working in musicals and also film theme songs. Bricusse was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge University, he was Secretary of Footlights between 1952 and 1953 and Footlights President during the following year. In the 1960s and 1970s, Bricusse enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Anthony Newley. They wrote the musical Stop the World - I Want to Get Off (1961) which was successful in London and on Broadway, and was made into a film version in 1966. Also in collaboration with Newley, Bricusse wrote The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd (1965) and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl, and for which they received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song Score. Working solely as a lyricist, he collaborated with composer Cyril Ornadel on Pickwick (1963), based on Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, a successful vehicle for Harry Secombe. Later collaborators included Henry Mancini (Victor Victoria in 1982) and John Williams (Hook in 1991). As composer and lyricist he scored the successful film Doctor Dolittle (1967), for which he received an Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Talk to the Animals"), and the less-successful Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969). He currently lives in the United States, and is married to actress Yvonne Romain. .

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Book number: 04156

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: BRICUSSE, Leslie Christmas

[CRUIKSHANKIANA]

Four Original Watercolors in the Manner of George Cruikshank

N.p.: n.p. n.d. Four Charming Faux-Cruikshank Watercolors [CRUIKSHANKIANA]. Four Original Watercolor Caricatures in the Manner of George Cruikshank. N.p.: n.p. n.d. Two images at 5 5/8 x 3 5/8 in. (143 x 91 mm); two at 5 1/4 x 3 5/8 in. (134 x 90 mm). Each image executed on card stock (9 x 7 1/2 in.) with mounted "book cover" overlay with title: "Locke on the Human Understanding;" "Pleasing Reflections;" and (2) "Cruikshank Comicalities." "Locke on Human Understanding" has been excised from its card background. The two "Cruikshank Comicalities" open to reveal "The Man Wut Won The Fight," and "The Hackney Dragsman," each with captions. "Locke on the Human Understanding" opens to reveal a man "locke'd" in penal stocks; "Pleasing Reflections" opens to reveal an unattractive man lovingly gazing at himself in a mirror; each without caption. None of the four images as titled are found in Cohn. They appear to be fine examples of non-Cruikshank Cruikshankiana by one clearly enamored with the famed caricaturist. These are not the work of an amateur; they are the product of a consummately skilled draughtsman and colorist identified only by the initials "H.C." found on two of the caricatures. A delightful and fine set. .

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Book number: 02338

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: Color-Plate Books Caricatures Cruikshankiana

DYER, Jane, artist

Goodnight Sheep

: , 1993. A Sweet Watercolor Illustration Beautifully Framed DYER, Jane, artist. "Goodnight Sheep". From Good Night, Good Night Sleepyhead. [N.p. ca. 1993]. Original pen, ink and watercolor illustration. Image size: 10 1/8 x 12 inches; 257 x 305 mm.) Beautifully matted, framed and glazed. (Frame size: 17 7/8 x 19 7/8 inches; 454 x 505 mm.). A sweet illustration of a baby embracing a sheep stuffed aminal. Beautifully framed with a cream silk mat, bordered with metallic gold and blue ribbons, and further decorated with light blue ribbon embellishment. Jane Dyer is a beloved American illustrator of more than fifty books, including Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Cookies series and Jeanne Birdsall's Lucky and Squash. Dyer grew up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She used to teach, write, and illustrate textbooks before she began illustrating children's books full-time. Most of Dyer's work in children books illustrates family or home scenes. Dyer has received multiple awards throughout her career, including two Parent's Choice Honor Books for Illustration awards. In 2015, Dyer spoke at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts and read Lucky and Squash aloud as part of her talk on the art-making process for picture books. .

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Book number: 04005

Catalogue: Original Art

GILBERT, Anne Yvonne, artist

Little Son, Hush-a-Bye

: , 1991. A Lovely Dual Watercolor Lullaby Framed Together with a Stunning Custom Mat GILBERT, Anne Yvonne, artist. "Little Son, Hush-a-Bye". From Baby's Book of Lullabies & Cradle Songs. [N.p.], 1991. Two original pen, ink and watercolor illustrations. Image sizes: 7 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches; 191 x 191 mm. Beautifully matted, framed and glazed together. (Frame size: 15 7/8 x 27 inches; 403 x 686 mm.). This lovely illustrated spread was inspired by the illustrator's son. One side features handwritten lyrics to the lullaby, "Little Son, Hush-a-Bye" and the other depicts a mother cradling her son. Beautifully framed with a pink-cream silk mat bordered with decorative cream and pink ribbons. Anne Yvonne Gilbert is a British artist and book illustrator. Her controversial cover design of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 1983 single "Relax" became "one of the most famous record sleeves of all time". While much of her career since then has focused on illustrating the covers and interiors of popular books, Gilbert has also designed series of stamps produced by the Royal Mail depicting Christmas themes and Arthurian mythology. She illustrated several of the books in the popular Ologies series, among other children's books. In 1991, Gilbert compiled sixteen traditional lullabies into her book, Baby's Book of Lullabies & Cradle Songs, which she illustrated using watercolors. The selections included songs in English, French, and Norwegian, among other languages. She illustrated Rebecca Hickox's children's book Per and the Dala Horse in 1997, and M.C. Helldorfer's Night of the White Stag in 1999. Gilbert has provided artwork for many other children's books, including A Visit from St. Nicholas and Vivien French's A Christmas Star Called Hannah, both published in 2000. She illustrated Billy Joel's first children's book, "Goodbye My Angel", in 2004, which he based off a song he wrote for his daughter. .

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Book number: 04004

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: Gift Books

GREENAWAY, Kate, artist

Come and Play in the Garden

[Hampstead, London]: , 1890. Come and Play in the Garden" A Fine Original Pen, Ink and Watercolor for Little Ann GREENAWAY, Kate, artist. "Come and Play in the Garden". Original pen, ink and watercolor drawing for "Little Ann". Signed with initials at lower left. No date, no place [Hampstead, London, ca. 1883]. Landscape (9 1/4 x 8 3/4 inches; 236 x 222 mm.). Image size: 4 7/8 x 4 1/2 inches; 124 x 115 mm. This fine watercolor appears on page 51 of Little Anne. London, 1883. "Little sister, come away, And let us in the garden play, For it is a pleasant day. On the grass-plat let us sit, Or, if you please, we'll play a bit, And run about all over it. But the fruit we will not pick, For that would be a naughty trick, And very likely make us sick. Nor will we pluck the pretty flowers That grow about the beds and bowers, Because you know they are not ours. We'll take the daisies, white and red, Because mamma has often said That we may gather them instead. And much I hope that we always may Our very dear mamma obey, And mind whatever she may say." "From early 1883 onwards, Ruskin became the most important influence in Kate's life. He wrote to her "My dear Kate.. when can you come and see Mountain Spring? Another year, you must come for the snow drops; but it must be a year of bright frost, not black rain.. April would be best but I want to be sure of you, and I know you cannot command your time in the chances of book work - so I'll fit my plans to yours." ..Meanwhile she was bust preparing her next book, encouraged by her recent financial success. In late January Evans sent a cheque for £287.17.6d. marked 'half profit in 76,403 copies of those books in print' - which included recent German editions of the Birthday Book and Mother Goose. She accepted Evans's suggestion and planned to illustrate fifty favourite childhood verses by Jane and Ann Taylor, for a book she called Little Ann and Other Poems. Kate Greenaway arrived at Ruskin's home, Brantwood on April 10th, 1883..she left , not a fortnight, but nearly a month later, feeling she knew Ruskin the man - an enigmatic figure with piercing blue eyes, a caressing voice and the limitless charm that helped her to overcome her timidity and her desire to return to London. He made every possible effort to make her comfortable, and flattered her by listening to her ideas on art, nature and life.. Kate wandered freely about the grounds, drawing flowers or the dancing children of Coniston Hall; her work only occasionally encouraged by Ruskin. Although he had 'all kinds of plans in my head for her', he sank back into a growing moodiness that Kate noticed but tried to ignore." Because of these strained silences, when her visit ended Ruskin was doubtful of its results. He wrote in his diary: 'May 8 Tuesday.. Kate Greenaway went home yesterday - I fear not much wiser for her visit. But Kate could only recall her ecstatic happiness at Brantwood, as she wrote to Lily Evans how she regretted leaving.. While waiting for news of Ruskin's lecture, Kate accepted further commissions. Austin Dobson, who was by this time a great admirer of her work, persuaded her to illustrate two poems he had written that had been inspired by her children. Their collaborations appeared twice, in the January and the May issues of the Magazine of Art, the latter being a full page verse description of Kate's inimitable world, with Greenaway children scattered in the margin.. Kate also worked daily on Little Ann and the year's Almanack, all the while looking out for a letter from Ruskin.. but it was Stacy Marks who gave her the assurances that Ruskin now failed to offer. He wrote to thank her for Little Ann, which he thought was 'on the whole, I might say entirely, your best book.." (Rodney Engen. Kate Greenaway. A Biography, pp. 86-104). One of the few artists to gain true celebrity from illustrating children's books, Kate Greenaway was one of the most influential illustrators of her age. Greenaway, along with Randolph Caldecott and Walter Crane, revolutionized illustration. Popular in both Europe and the United States, Greenaway has remained highly sought after, even among contemporary children's book collectors. (Vic Zoschak). .

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Book number: 04184

Catalogue: Original Art

GREENAWAY, Kate, artist

Dirty Jim

[Hampstead, London]: , 1890. Dirty Jim" A Fine Original Pen, Ink and Watercolor for Little Ann GREENAWAY, Kate, artist. "Dirty Jim". Original pen, ink and watercolor drawing for "Little Ann". Signed with initials at lower left. No date, no place [Hampstead, London, 1883]. Landscape (10 x 8 3/8 inches; 254 x 213 mm.). Image size: 4 3/8 x 3 1/2 inches; 111 x 89 mm. This fine watercolor appears on page 24 of Little Anne. London, 1883. "There was one little Jim, 'Tis reported of him, And must be to his lasting disgrace, That he never was seen With hands at all clean, Nor yet ever clean was his face. His friends were much hurt To see so much dirt, And often they made him quite clean; But all was in vain, He got dirty again, And not at all fit to be seen. It gave him no pain To hear them complain, Nor his own dirty clothes to survey: His indolent mind No pleasure could find In tidy and wholesome array. The idle and bad, Like this little lad, May love dirty ways, to be sure: But good boys are seen To be decent and clean, Although they are ever so poor." "From early 1883 onwards, Ruskin became the most important influence in Kate's life. He wrote to her "My dear Kate.. when can you come and see Mountain Spring? Another year, you must come for the snow drops; but it must be a year of bright frost, not black rain.. April would be best but I want to be sure of you, and I know you cannot command your time in the chances of book work - so I'll fit my plans to yours." ..Meanwhile she was bust preparing her next book, encouraged by her recent financial success. In late January Evans sent a cheque for £287.17.6d. marked 'half profit in 76,403 copies of those books in print' - which included recent German editions of the Birthday Book and Mother Goose. She accepted Evans's suggestion and planned to illustrate fifty favourite childhood verses by Jane and Ann Taylor, for a book she called Little Ann and Other Poems. Kate Greenaway arrived at Ruskin's home, Brantwood on April 10th, 1883..she left , not a fortnight, but nearly a month later, feeling she knew Ruskin the man - an enigmatic figure with piercing blue eyes, a caressing voice and the limitless charm that helped her to overcome her timidity and her desire to return to London. He made every possible effort to make her comfortable, and flattered her by listening to her ideas on art, nature and life.. Kate wandered freely about the grounds, drawing flowers or the dancing children of Coniston Hall; her work only occasionally encouraged by Ruskin. Although he had 'all kinds of plans in my head for her', he sank back into a growing moodiness that Kate noticed but tried to ignore." Because of these strained silences, when her visit ended Ruskin was doubtful of its results. He wrote in his diary: 'May 8 Tuesday.. Kate Greenaway went home yesterday - I fear not much wiser for her visit. But Kate could only recall her ecstatic happiness at Brantwood, as she wrote to Lily Evans how she regretted leaving.. While waiting for news of Ruskin's lecture, Kate accepted further commissions. Austin Dobson, who was by this time a great admirer of her work, persuaded her to illustrate two poems he had written that had been inspired by her children. Their collaborations appeared twice, in the January and the May issues of the Magazine of Art, the latter being a full page verse description of Kate's inimitable world, with Greenaway children scattered in the margin.. Kate also worked daily on Little Ann and the year's Almanack, all the while looking out for a letter from Ruskin.. but it was Stacy Marks who gave her the assurances that Ruskin now failed to offer. He wrote to thank her for Little Ann, which he thought was 'on the whole, I might say entirely, your best book.." (Rodney Engen. Kate Greenaway. A Biography, pp. 86-104). One of the few artists to gain true celebrity from illustrating children's books, Kate Greenaway was one of the most influential illustrators of her age. Greenaway, along with Randolph Caldecott and Walter Crane, revolutionized illustration. Popular in both Europe and the United States, Greenaway has remained highly sought after, even among contemporary children's book collectors. (Vic Zoschak). .

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Book number: 04185

Catalogue: Original Art

Keywords: Books in French Caricatures Color Printing

GREENAWAY, Kate, artist

Frogs and Snakes

[n.p.]: , 1870. Frogs and Snakes" GREENAWAY, Kate (1846 - 1901). "Frogs and Snakes". Original pen, ink and watercolor drawing illustrating "Diamonds and Toads" from Aunt Louisas London Toy Book, London: 1870. Image size: 9 x 8 inches; 229 x 203 mm. Matted, framed and glazed. This fantastically vivid and full watercolor drawing, from the artist very early on in her career, depicts a young woman holding in her right hand a large silver tankard and looking somewhat horrified as two huge frogs and two snakes jump and slither out of her mouth. An old woman who is facing her, is in fact a fairy who has cast a spell on the girl. She had put the girl to a test to see if she would be kind and obliging, but unfortunately the girl failed the test miserably and the outcome, as we can see, resulted in toads and vipers falling from her lips every time she speaks. Therein, surely lies a lesson to be learnt! "She had no sooner reached the fountain, than a lady most magnificently dressed came out of the woodland path, and asked Fanny to give her some water. This was the same Fairy who had before appeared as a poor old woman; and she came for the same purpose, that was, to try whether the young girl was kind and obliging; but lest she should only pretend goodness in order to gain the precious gift, the Fairy appeared in a different form. "I did not come here to draw water for strangers," said Fanny, scornfully; "I suppose you think the best silver tankard was brought on purpose for your ladyship! However you may drink out of it if you have a fancy." "You are not very obliging," said the Fairy; "and since you have behaved with so little civility, I will bestow a gift on you which shall be your punishment. Every time you speak, there shall drop from you lips a viper or a toad." Having said these words she disappeared; and Fanny went home very sullen and angry." (Diamonds and Toads). "In 1869 Kate began an important illustration commission - six watercolour designs for Diamonds and Toads, a children's toybook published by Frederick Warne. She used her eighteen-year-old sister Fanny as a model, (let's hope she modeled the younger woman in this watercolor on Fanny and not the older one !!) and took over a year to complete her most ambitious project to date..She earned £36 from the colour printer, Kronheim, for her watercolour designs for Diamonds and Toads. Kate's sister, Fanny married a distant cousin who came from the notorious Dadd family (Richard Dadd had killed his father and lived out his life in a home for the criminally insane and another uncle and his sister had suffered similar illnesses). It seems highly likely that Kate found Richard Dadd's work attractive for his fairies and gnomes published in S.C. Hall's Book of British Ballads (1842) were in a style she had long admired. Moreover, two years after Fanny's marriage into the Dadd family, there was still interest in Richard's work, despite his lengthy confinement.. It is interesting to consider Richard Dadd's influence on Kate's early work. For example, a comparison between Richard's 'Passion Series' watercolours of the mid-1850s and Kate's watercolour drawings for Diamonds and Toads, published fifteen years later, is quite revealing. There is a startling similarity of technique, as in the grotesque facial expressions and wide, frightening eyes emphasized by firm outlines. The work of both throughout this period is marked by the continual presence of witches and demonic gnomes. In addition, could Kate perhaps have had Richard in mind when she wrote the following maxims in a notebook found among her papers? 'Great wits to madness sure are near allied, of thin partitions do their bounds divide..Scandal will rub out like dirt when it is dry..There's a skeleton in every house'". "If ever there was a beautiful soul, it was the soul of Kate Greenaway". (Rodney Engen, Kate Greenaway; British Artists. Kate Greenaway. Sixteen Examples in Colour of the Artist's Work). .

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Book number: 01341

Catalogue: Original Art

[GREENAWAY, Kate], (In the style of)

Happiness" and "Dismay

: , 1875. A Superb Pair of Drawings In the Early Style of Kate Greenaway [GREENAWAY, Kate], (In the style of). "Happiness" and "Dismay". Two ink drawings, initialed and dated 1875. A pair of two original pen and ink drawings. Image sizes: 6 1/2 x 6 3/8 inches: 165 x 162 mm. Beautifully matted, framed and glazed separately with a cream mat and gray border. (Each frame size: 16 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches; 419 x 343 mm.). This pair of very sweet drawings that are full of emotion are most certainly in the early style of Kate Greenaway. One depicts a young girl and boy in a garden by a water pump and large urn. The boy is holding an apple an the girl is offering him a bite of a pie. The other drawing shows the same girl and boy crying as the large urn has shattered into pieces at their feet. We have been unable to identify the initials but we believe that they were done by a very accomplished mid-Victorian artist. .

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Book number: 03989

Catalogue: Original Art