Swann Galleriess sale of illustration art on Dec. 10 featured an array of original works, from well-known characters of childrens literature to striking New Yorker covers and theater designs. Seven of the top 20 lots were acquired by institutions. Childrens illustrations proved to be the centerpiece of the sale, with a gouache-and-ink sketch for Ludwig Bemelmanss Madeline, which featured Miss Clavel and Madeline picking flowers in front of the Eiffel Tower, selling for $22,500, going to a collector. Also by Bemelmans were two 1947 watercolor ink-and-wash drawings for the artists A Tale of Two Glimps that sold for $7,500 to an institution. Additional childhood favorites included H.A. Reys 1939 watercolor-and-gouache work for Rafi et les 9 singes, featuring several of the monkeys skiing down Cecily the giraffes neck ($15,000); Ernest H. Shepards 1949 pen-and-ink drawing for Kenneth Grahames Berties Escapade ($13,750); and Harry Rountrees 1901 illustration for Alices Adventures in Wonderland, showing an irate Queen of Hearts ($8,125). Further nostalgia-filled illustrations featured one of Dr. Seusss 1937 calendar designs for the Thomas D. Murphy company selling for $17,500. Also by Seuss was a 1955 billboard advertisement for Holly Sugar starring a Grinch-like character, which earned $15,000. Two original four-panel Peanuts comics by Charles Schulz performed well, Your Hero Had Feet of Clay, Huh?, 1963, featuring Charlie Brown and Patty, and The Biggest Star Measured So Far, 1961, featuring Linus and Lucy. They sold for $16,250 each. The popular New Yorker section of the sale delivered exceptional results. Charles Addamss Nevermore, an iconic image of Edgar Allan Poe struggling to find the voice for his famous narrative poem, brought $22,500, going to a collector. Ilonka Karaszs cover illustration for the Aug. 27, 1927, issue, Chop Suey, garnered a record for the artist at $13,750, bought by a collector. Edward Gorey works from the Edward Gorey Charitable Trust included the magazine illustrations, Print or Perish, a 1988 pen, ink, watercolor-and-wash work for the cover of the January/February issue of Print Magazine ($16,250), and He Will Not Be Right Back After this Message, a 1980 pen, ink, watercolor, graphite-and-wash illustration for TV Guide Magazine ($8,125). Also of note from the trust were costume designs for the Andre Eglevsky Company 1975 production of the second act of Swan Lake ($10,000) and the 1984 exhibition poster design for Gorey Stories: Books & Drawings by Edward Gorey, ($12,500). I was so pleased to have choice examples from some of the most famous names in illustration in this sale and see them make the list of top lots. It proves that narrative art continues to be a highly collectible field and that Swann is a terrific place to cross-market those works with our long history of specialization in Americana, literature, fine art, and graphic material, noted Christine von der Linn, the houses Illustration Art director. To learn more, visit swanngalleries.com.