THIS WEEK'S FEATURE
Greenaway, Kate. AN UNPUBLISHED KATE GREENAWAY MANUSCRIPT ILLUSTRATED WITH AN ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR OF FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN RUNNING ATOP A LOW GARDEN WALL, circa 1885. A charming, self-contained story written for Violet Severn, the daughter of John Ruskin's cousin, Joan Severn, handwritten in pencil by Kate Greenaway on a single sheet of heavy weight paper measuring 8-9/16" x 8-3/16", below a fine original watercolor drawing by Greenaway, all within a single line border measuring 6-1/4" x 5-7/8"; signed in pencil with the initials "K.G." at the end of the story. The image echoes the illustrations for the two poems "On the Wall Top" in Greenaway's book, Marigold Garden (1885). The present story begins "This was their favorite amusement to run backwards and forwards along the wall top," and closes with a list of the children's names, ending with "and then the last one was called - Violet like yourself;" paper lightly toned. The condition of the illustrated manuscript is VERY FINE (8/10). A truly wonderful item!
Provenance: Violet Severn (1880-1940); Hext family of Holywath, Coniston; Hext sale, Tennant's, 8 May 2010, lot 101; the Private Collection of the late Thomas Schuster.
Note: Graded on a 10 point grading scale used for prints and original works of art as follows:
8/10 - Very Fine; Mild or moderate condition issues visible under very close inspection or under raking light.
