AN EXTRAORDINARY ITEM: GARTH WILLIAMS’ ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR, PEN AND INK ILLUSTRATION FOR THE FIRST EDITION DUST JACKET OF CHARLOTTE’S WEB, FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE BOOK’S EDITOR, URSULA NORDSTROM
WILLIAMS, Garth. Original watercolor illustration [Charlotte's Web dust jacket]. No place, 1952.
Original watercolor, pen and ink front cover and spine illustration for the dust jacket of the first edition of Charlotte’s Web by Garth Williams, a preliminary version of the final cover, evidently sent by Williams for approval to Ursula Nordstrom, the legendary director of Harper’s department of children’s books from 1940 to 1973 and the editor of Charlotte’s Web. From the personal collection of Ursula Nordstrom. A remarkable item, the original art for what is arguably one of the most beautiful children’s dust jacket illustrations ever, and an integral part of the publication history of one of the most beloved and celebrated children’s books of the 20th century. With original museum exhibition label. $65,000.
Read More