Rare A. A. Milne Letter to E. H. Shepard – Revealing Unpublished “Pooh Clock” Inscription

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The letter, dating from around 1928 during the preparation of The House at Pooh Corner, contains Milne’s draft wording for a proposed inscription to accompany an unpublished Shepard illustration titled “A little something.” The drawing, depicting a whimsical “Pooh clock,” was never included in the final book.

Written in ink by Milne and later amended in graphite, the letter sets out two possible inscriptions for the illustration. One reads:

“This Clock was Invented & Drawn by ERNEST H. SHEPHERD for his friends POOH & PIGLET, to Encourage that Punctuality which is the Politeness of Princes and all other People who begin with a P.”

A second, shorter version follows:

“This Clock was drawn by ERNEST H. SHEPHERD for his friends POOH & PIGLET, to Encourage them in Habits of Punctuality”. The page is further annotated in red ink “Suggested ‘Inscription’ for Pooh clock.” Shepard himself later reviewed the suggestions, circling one in pencil and writing the approving note: “I like this one EHS.”

The letter surfaced unexpectedly when it was discovered tucked inside a copy of Shepard’s memoir, Drawn from Memory (1957). On the book’s opening page is a pencilled note reading “Inscriptions for Pooh clock,” suggesting the document was preserved among Shepard’s own working papers. The book in which the letter was found is believed to have been part of Shepard’s personal library.

While the inscription drafts relate to Shepard’s illustration, the drawing itself — “A little something” — was never published in the Pooh books. Today, the artwork is held in the collection of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery in Hobart, Australia.

The letter provides a rare and evocative glimpse into the collaboration between Milne and Shepard as they brought to life the world of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, including Piglet — characters that have delighted readers for nearly a century.

The letter will be sold by Reeman Dansie Auctioneers in their Specialist Collectors Auction running from the 17th -19th March 2026, with a guide price of £300-£500.

Lewis Rabett, Head of the Collectables Department at Reeman Dansie, said: “Winnie-the-Pooh is a timeless classic and any related artifacts are like holy relics to collectors, this is such a charming lot and the interchange between writer and illustrator offers a rare glimpse into the working relationship of one of the famous collaborations in children’s literature”

With its direct link to the creative partnership behind one of the most beloved works of children’s literature, the letter is expected to attract strong interest from international collectors of literary manuscripts, illustration, and Pooh memorabilia when it comes under the hammer next week.

Specialist Collectors'

Tuesday 17th - Thursday 19th February | 10am

auctions@reemandansie.com | 01206 754754

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