An unseen cartoon by the famous The Wind in the Willows illustrator Ernest H Shepard to the renowned British artist, Harold Riley, has an estimate of £300-£500 at Hansons Auctioneers’ upcoming sale.
Dated 1953, and showing Ratty by an open fire, it was doodled on the back of a handwritten invitation to the Salford artist and signed “Uncle Ernest”.
The invitation says: “Harold, Love, Ratty that you love so much warming his hands by the fire. Please come next weekend I promise some Rhubarb Pie, love Uncle Ernest”.
The cartoon was given to its current owner, Liz Rayner from Wooton Wawen in Warwickshire, by Riley in 1956.
She recalled: “I met Harold Riley when I was working for a European travel company. Harold had been the judge of a children’s art competition, the winners of which were awarded a trip to Italy.
“To break the ice, we all described our favourite book or film. I mentioned mine was The Wind in the Willows and when I met Harold a year later, he presented me with the sketch.”
Riley also attached another label reading “Dear Liz, ‘Ratty’ by the fire, from my Uncle ES Sketchbook, with love H, 1956”.
At the time the cartoon was framed with the invitation not on show.
Liz continued: “I am nosey so immediately removed it from the frame and discovered the charming invitation on the back.”
But discovering links between the two artistic stalwarts proved more difficult.
She said: “I don’t know how the pair were related, either by family connections or friendship. I believe the invitation was extended when Riley was at the Slade School of Art in London in the 1950s, rather than popping down from Salford to see Shepard at his Surrey home near Farnham.”
Riley (1934-2023), a friend of LS Lowry, was a key artist of the northern art scene, known for his depictions of his hometown of Salford. He was commissioned to paint portraits of the royal family, American presidents, three popes and Nelson Mandela.
Shepard’s illustrations first appeared in Kenneth Grahame’s famous tale of the adventures of Mole, Ratty and Badger and Mr Toad in 1931.
At the time Shepard (1879-1976) was already a well-known illustrator, having achieved success with his work on AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books.
Hansons Auctioneers’ specialist, Barry Jones, said: “Shepard’s illustrations of Ratty made the water vole one of the most loved characters in The Wind in the Willows.”
In the cartoon up for sale, which is signed with the initial EHS, Shepard shows Ratty, sitting in a Windsor chair warming himself by an open fire.
Barry continued: “The style is typically Shepard, gentle and somewhat nostalgic with soft line work capturing a cosy interior on a winter’s day.”
The Wind in the Willows was first published in 1908, but the original edition had no illustrations, and it was a modest success rather than a sensation.
Various illustrated editions appeared in following decades, but none with the staying power associated with Shepard’s.
Auction Details
Auction: Derby October 20th Century Modern Art & Design Auction
Auction date: 10th October 2025 | 9:30am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
