Parrish, Rackham and Dulac among signed first editions of illustrated classics to be auctioned in Beverly Hills

Wide selection of illustrated books from the Estate of noted collector John McLaughlin; also two books containing original Rackham drawings, three signed first-edition Winnie-The-Pooh books

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Rare editions of illustrated literature, with original images created by some of the greatest illustrators in the genre – Arthur Rackham, Maxfield Parrish, Edmund Dulac and the one and only Dr. Seuss – anchor the offerings from Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills in its Signature® Rare Books auction, taking place on Oct. 14 in-person at Heritage (9478 West Olympic Boulevard) and online at HA.com.

“This superior grouping of illustrated literature is highlighted by selections from the estate of collector John McLaughlin,” said James Gannon, Director of Rare Books at Heritage. “These are the type of editions that collectors spend a lifetime pursuing and we have most of the top signed, limited editions on the block on October 14.”

Portions of the McLaughlin Collection will also be auctioned off as part of Heritage’s Oct. 15 Illustration Art Auction in New York, taking place at The Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion (Ukrainian Institute), 2 East 79^th Street.

The top offering from McLaughlin’s estate is a rare Edition de Luxe, number 45 of 500 limited edition copies, of Peter Christen Asbjörnsen and Jörgen Ingebreksten Moe’s East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Old Tales from the North, London: 1914, illustrated by Kay Nielsen. The volume comes in the original vellum binding, is signed by Nielsen, and is estimated at $5,000+.

An extraordinary copy of Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson, London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1927, illustrated by the celebrated artist Edmund Dulac is another principle highlight from McLaughlin. The book is number 29 from a limited edition of 50 copies in the publisher’s full vellum and is signed by Dulac on the limitation page. It is expected to bring $3,000+.

Two additional offerings from the McLaughlin collection include two names that are, arguably, the most important in the realm of illustrated literature: Arthur Rackham and Maxfield Parrish.

From Rackham, the auction will offer a first edition copy of James Stephens’ Irish Fairy Tales, London: Macmillan and Co., 1920, with an original signed drawing by Rackham on the recto of the half-title page, estimated at $2,000+. The Parrish offering comes in the form of a first edition The Knave of Hearts, by Louise Saunders, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925, with an autograph note signed by Parrish, in which he lists the books he remembers illustrating. It carries a pre-auction estimate of $1,000+.

Another Rackham highlight, still superb though not originating in McLaughlin’s superb collection, is the Rackham illustrated The Ingoldsby Legends: Mirth & Marvels, by Thomas Ingoldsby, London: J. M. Dent & Co., 1907, signed by Rackham on the limitation page with an additional original Rackham signed ink and watercolor drawing, taken from the story The Brothers of Birchington. It is estimated at $5,000+. Of note, as well, is a large and virtually complete collection of Rackham-signed limited editions in colorful, custom leather bindings.

The Oct.14 auction includes a superb gathering of first edition Disney books, which are evergreen with collectors, including Sketch Book of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, by Walt Disney, London: Collins, 1938, a presentation copy of the first edition. The book is signed and dated by Disney on a preliminary page and hand-numbered "4" by him on the front flap of the dust jacket, estimated at $5,000+, and a first edition of Walt Disney's "Fantasia," by Deems Taylor, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940, inscribed on the half- title page by Disney in blue artist's crayon: "To 'Big Bob'/With Best Wishes/Walt Disney." It is expected to bring $2,500+.

Fans of everyone’s favorite “silly old bear,” the one and only Winnie-The-Pooh, and his creator, A.A. Milne, will be delighted by three signed first edition Pooh book offerings in the auction, with Now We Are Six: With Decorations by Ernest H. Shepard, London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1927, leading the way (Estimate: $8,000+), followed by a beautiful signed edition of When We Were Very Young, New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1924 (Estimate: $5,000+) and a very rare copy of Winnie-the-Pooh, with decorations by Ernest H. Shepard. London: Methuen & Co., 1926, signed by both Milne and Shepard (Estimate: $4,000+).

Further highlights include, but are not limited to:

Dr. Seuss, The Seven Lady Godivas: New York: Random House, 1939: First edition, first printing. Inscribed by Dr. Seuss on the verso of the half-title: "For Noel/Who can sue/but he damn well/can't collect-- Dr. Seuss." Estimate: $1,500+.

Lewis Carroll, the two "Alice" Books, including: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There: West Hatfield, Massachusetts: 1982, Pennyroyal Press. Both volumes from a limited edition of 350 copies signed and numbered by Moser, of which each is number 2 of 50 special patron's copies. Estimate: $8,500+.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

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