Original Large Signed Artwork depicting Rey's children's book character, Pretzel. [Creator of Curious George]

REY, H A [Hans Augusto REY]

Published by Hingham, Massachusetts, 1970

About this Item

Original newspaper stock, 36" by 31" inches, modern professional matting and hand-painted frame (50" by 45"). Lovely original artwork by the co-creator of Curious George of his lesser known, but equally lovable character, Pretzel, who made two appearances in children's books: Pretzel, first published in 1944 and Pretzel and the Puppies, published in 1946. Both titles are still currently in print today. This massive three color (orange, black, and blue) crayon drawing was presented to a classroom in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1970 which Rey visited and is signed and dated by Rey in the lower right hand corner "For John from his friend / H. A. Rey / Hingham, 10-22-1970". The artwork was originally mounted on a large piece of cardboard with the photographs of the children from the class pasted to the verso (original mounting included). The piece has now been professionally removed from the cardboard and laid down on archival quality cardstock. The acidic newspaper stock has been professionally deacidified and wonderfully framed by the children's illustration art specialists at Michelson's Gallery of Northampton, Massachusetts. Original artwork by either of the Reys is notoriously uncommon as the majority of their artistic and literary production was left to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi. Active pursuit of Rey's remaining original artwork by this library and other university special collections around the country has left precious little for collectors. The values for H. A. and Margret Rey's literary titles has excellerated in recent years culminating in a recent sale at auction of a first edition copy in dustjacket of Curious George realizing a sale price of $21,000. This is a lovely large original piece of children's literary history. Very Good overall, newspaper stock has sustained some relatively small holes and loss, housed in a lovely handpainted blue and orange frame with museum non-reflective UV protective glass.

Seller Inventory # 14047

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Original Large Signed Artwork depicting Rey's children's book character, Pretzel. [Creator of Curious George]
• Publisher: Hingham, Massachusetts
• Publication Date: 1970
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Children's Literature