LONDON.- On Monday 8th December, Sotheby’s will host First Editions: Redrawn, an auction of annotated first editions from some of the world’s greatest-living illustrators to raise money for House of Illustration. Thirty-four much-loved illustrators – and some authors – have annotated and re-drawn timeless classics, giving a unique insight into the creative process involved.

Each illustrator has carefully selected and returned to their chosen books, providing additional illustrations, comments on existing drawings or even personal insights about the motivation behind characters.

Highlight lots include:

• Terry Gilliam Annotations of Mortality

• Raymond Briggs The Snowman including personal insights about the landscape and characters

• Peter Blake Alice Through the Looking-Glass including new illustrations and annotations of this all-time classic

• Quentin Blake’s reworking of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory which is the only copy to include the drawing of character Vanilla Fudge

• Michael Bond, author of A Bear Called Paddington, has annotated this rare first edition with personal insights throughout

• Judith Kerr’s The Tiger who came to tea, has the tiger wearing a top hat and includes annotations on the story behind its creation

• Paula Rego Nursery Rhymes has added a number of personal, insights into this classic work

• Tony Ross and David Walliams’ Demon Dentist, includes new illustrations and extensive annotations by David Walliams

• Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo comes complete with extra characters from Scheffler’s other well-known stories and extensive annotations from Julia Donaldson

• Gerald Scarfe’s The Making of Pink Floyd The Wall with numerous annotations, mixed media and a new illustrated dust jacket

• Linda Kitson’s The Falklands War – A Visual Diary including never-seen preliminary sketches from the first officially-commissioned British female war artist

Dr Philip Errington, Director, Sotheby’s Books & Manuscripts says: “This charity sale at Sotheby’s demonstrates authors and illustrators re-engaging with their works. The thought behind the sale is simple: a collectable first edition has been given to an illustrator or author and the creator has been asked to annotate the text or illustrations. The responses are as varied as the individual creative spirits. The act of confronting first editions and engaging with them has created the ultimate copies of these works.”

The funds raised from the auction will enable House of Illustration to fulfil its ambitions for the new space, to promote and foster new illustration talent, engage more people in illustration and to further develop its pioneering education work, which uses illustration to develop key literacy, creative and communication skills.