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SHEPARD, E. H.
Correspondence to Pauline Baynes.
A substantial archive of correspondence from Shepard (signing himself "Kip") to his fellow children's books illustrator, Pauline Baynes (1922–2008), best known for her work on C. S. Lewis's Narnia books, as well as her map of Tolkien's Middle Earth and others of his works. Shepard and Baynes met after the war, when Shepard encouraged the younger artist and took her to London to show her portfolio to his editor at the Illustrated London News. As the correspondence shows, they remained friends, exchanging letters for the rest of Shepard's life. The earliest dated letter is 29 March 1956; the last 28 November 1969. Shepard on illustrating: "I have had a nice offer from G. Bell (publishers of Pepys etc) which is giving me some concern. It is to illustrate a book of old French fairy stories by Lancelyn Green… though I doubt for any profit… . I do hope your drawings are going better than mine - I think a thing looks right when I knock off in the evening & then, next morning, it looks horrible and I want to begin all over again". An allusion to Christopher Robin: "… I am trying to work out for Punch, for Badgers are partial to bulbs and Brock the badger is a leading character. They are quite enthusiastic about it at Punch and now the difficult part will be to keep the story going along, with new adventures. A boy an everyday boy not like C. Robin, goes ahead with Brock. The trouble is I have to make sure of being 4 weeks in hand." The Wind in the Willows: "I am getting much enjoyment from making the coloured drawings for 'Wind in the Willows'. Did I tell you they are going to do a larger 21/s- Edition in the autumn… . It is rather a nuisance for Scribners have sent back my design for the colour jacket for 'Wind in the Willows' as it is quite the wrong size - It was their fault as they gave me the size of the book & never said that the thing was to be a panel with their own type of lettering above. However I hope I may do a better one, now that I know I have till mid September. Yesterday afternoon Norah and I went out to look for a nice Willow tree, not too easy to find round here and we went Miles, then at Selham, which is only two miles away on the way home I found one by the Rother, quite a nice one, not pollarded, but good enough". His autobiography: "I have now started on the drawings for my book and find that easier than the writing. It is rather startling to find what a lot I can remember, I suppose that, by drawing everything as I did, events & people & places got fixed at the back of my mind… . I have written to John Betjeman to ask him to review it when the time comes" and the launch, "The Army and Navy Stores are really putting their backs into publicity & being most helpful including a window display of 'Wind in Willows' drawings borrowed from Methuens". Reminiscences about his childhood home in Kent Terrace, London: "The outside is exactly as it was even down to the lamp post in front… we tried to get inside but it was empty & locked up… it was Crown property & we should get permission… this was not good enough, so, remembering what I used to do when I was 7, I led them round to the mews at the back where the garden door was not locked. Then we got in through the back door… the place has been empty for over 10 years… some of the floors have even fallen in but we got up to the top and I fear that I got a lump in my throat - so many things still there - banisters, doors etc even the little niche behind the front door…" On Baynes's work: "… you showed me some rough sketches for your Arabian Nights and among them, was one of the nativity. I fell in love with it and asked if I might be allowed to buy it…" An amusing account of a visit by two of Pauline Baynes's aunts: "I have tried to point out to them the inadequacy of your accommodation & the difficulty of supplying meals. I have not the least doubt that you will be expected to provide transport for this invasion. Besides numerous suitcases they have two enormous trunks, so nothing short of a bus would suffice. The two women bicker about the house all day, so it is difficult to see how you will be able to work." Provenance: from the collection of Pat McInally.
41 autograph letters signed, 2 autograph postcards signed, and a small quantity of related items including a photograph of Shepard, a photocopy of a letter from Shepard to Baynes, and newspaper cuttings of obituaries.
