Rupert Auction

A while back I put together a little piece on Rupert writer and editor Freddie Chaplain. I've since learned that some of Chaplain's possessions relating to Rupert are about to go to auction at Duke's Auctioneers of Dorchester.

The sale -- this Friday (5th October) -- includes 27 lots relating to the Chaplain Rupert Bear Collection and includes original artwork for Rupert by Mary Tourtel and Alfred Bestall, runs of various books including 40 issues of the Rupert Little Bear Library, various Rupert annuals , some dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, and one lot of newspaper clippings, note books, letters, souvenirs and other documents relating to Rupert.

Above pics are from the auction catalogue to be found at the Duke's website (lots 400-426, to be found on page 10 and page 11): original Mary Tourtel artwork from the story 'Rupert and the Little Prince (lot 401)'; original frontispiece paintings by Alfred Bestell (416); and the infamous 1973 Rupert Annual which appeared in both 'white face' and 'brown face' editions (419).

(With thanks to Karenina Bennett and Paul Chaplain.)