Original artwork for Happy Rabbit: title page illustration.

Published within Happy Rabbit (Macmillan, 1947) on page 1. Eileen Soper (1905-1990) is best remembered for her illustrations for books by Enid Blyton. However, she wrote and illustrated several books herself, of which Happy Rabbit, a story about a pair of betrothed rabbits, was the first. The book was described by the publishers as "a delightful nursery book for children". It was ready in 1945, but wartime paper shortages delayed publication until 1947. The book was so successful that a new adventure, Dormouse Awake, followed in 1948. "Miss Soper has drawn many black and white sketches of rabbits and other woodland creatures, who are 'full of a desire to do all kinds of hoppity-skippity, up-in-the-airish things', for her story, and has painted. full-page pictures in lovely colors" (Christian Science Monitor). Provenance: the estate of George and Eileen Soper; Chris Beetles Limited. Christian Science Monitor, 9 December 1947, p. 16. Original drawing (185 x 140 mm) on card (292 x 222 mm), watercolour, pen and ink, unsigned, mounted, framed and glazed (framed size 442 x 340 mm). Minor toning, some foxing below mount: very good.…