Beatrix's Illustration Fetches £289,250 At Auction

By Staff

Monday, July 21, 2008, 15:45

An unique watercolour illustration, depicting a group of rabbits enjoying Christmas party has sold for a record 289,250 pounds at an auction in London.

The Rabbits' Christmas Party raked in nearly five times its pre sale estimates of 40,000 pounds and 60,000 pounds, becoming the most expensive book illustration ever sold at auction.

The illustration was painted by children's author Beatrix Potter in the 1890s.

The auction house Sotheby's said the buyer was a private British collector.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the price achieved for this unique watercolour," said BBC quoted Dr Philip W Errington, Sotheby's specialist in children's books and illustrations, as saying.

"The painting is one of the finest original artworks by the author and artist Beatrix Potter to be offered for sale at auction," he added.

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