Monsieur and Madame Gregory's Copy of Le voyage de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff

On Wednesday, at Bonhams, London, a unique first edition of Le voyage de Babar (1932) was sold. It bore an original drawing by Jean de Brunhoff, Babar's creator, of the beloved elephant in a hat shop. The salesman is offering Babar something fashionable but, perhaps, too small and insignificant for a royal elephant of his stature. 

The presale estimate was 10,000 to 20,000 GBP.

Jean de Brunhoff
Bonhams London, Knightsbridge, listing accessed October 27, 2024

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/29882/lot/58/brunhoff-jean-de-le-voyage-de-babar-first-edition-authors-presentation-copy-with-full-page-pen-and-ink-drawing-of-babar-in-a-hat-shop-opposite-the-title-page-paris-editions-du-jardin-des-modes-1932/?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=UK_STS_COL_BOK_29882_1_25102024&cid=18130931

The buyers' premium for this lot is 28%.

Sold! Hats off to Babar!

That comes to a 10,000 GBP hammer price plus the 2,800 GBP premium.

Note:  I doubt there are very many Babar books by Jean de Brunhoff, or even by his son Laurent, that are drawn upon quite so exquisitely but, even so, readers who feel they've come upon a contender are encouraged to relay images here for posting. And a tip of the hat to you too.

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Laurent de Brunhoff: Babar in Celesteville

With original Babar art, earlier work is often the more desirable. Laurent de Brunhoff's two-page spread from Babar à la fête de Célesteville (1954) is already second-generation Babar—Jean de Brunhoff being the creator—but fairly early in the son's long run. The original art of Babar and family walking through Celesteville is currently available from a dealer in Vienna.

Laurent de Brunhoff
AbeBooks listing accessed June 5, 2022

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=22565270487&searchurl=kn%3Dart%2BYoung%26sortby%3D1&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp3-_-title2

Forty years after its creation, the image was published as a limited edition print by the Mary Ryan Gallery:

https://maryryangallery.com/artworks/at-celesteville-by-the-sea/

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ABC de Babar: Jean de Brunhoff to A. A. Milne

Who would have thought such a thing existed? From Bonhams in 2007, here is a first edition of ABC de Babar (1934) inscribed by author Jean de Brunhoff to none other than A. A. Milne. It's enough to turn anyone into a book collector.

Jean de Brunhoff, ABC de Babar (1934)
First Edition Inscribed by the Author to A. A. Milne

Jean de Brunhoff, ABC de Babar (1934)

First Edition Inscribed by the Author to A. A. Milne

Bonhams Bath, February 13, 2007

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15037/lot/231/

Jean de Brunhoff, ABC de Babar (1934)
First Edition Inscribed by the Author to A. A. Milne

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