The Forest, Ashdown In East Sussex Inscribed By Christopher Milne

Published by Sweethaws Press, Poundgate, UK, 1989. First edition. Original cloth. Dustwrapper. Size: 15.8cm x 23.7cm. pp. 232. A history of Ashdown Forest over six hundred years including references to A. A. and C. R. Milne and ‘Winnie The Pooh’. A. A. Milne would take his son Christopher there and the setting of ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ for the ‘Winnie The Pooh’ stories was inspired by their time spent in this forest. Ernest H. Shepard, the illustrator of the stories, would also base many of his illustrations for the books upon the landscapes of the forest. This extraordinary association copy is inscribed by Christopher Milne in the year of publication to his cousin, Marjorie: ‘To Marjorie, With lots of birthday love from Christopher, August 23rd, 1989’. ‘Marjorie’ was A. A. Milne’s niece, whom he preferred to call ‘Margery’. From birth she was the recipient of many letters from her affectionate uncle many years before he began writing stories for children: “My Dear Margery, – When I heard that you really had arrived, I got out the broken teacup, filled it at the bath, and drank “To my niece!” with the greatest enthusiasm possible. Had I been on the stage I should then have hurled the cup over my shoulder; and later on the scene-shifter would have come and collected the bits.  As it was, I left that part out; and you will forgive me, will you not, dear baby, when you hear that it was your uncle’s last cup, and he in a bad way financially.” (From ‘The Day’s Play’, A. A. Milne, 1910). A. A. Milne’s correspondence with Marjorie would continue for many years and he would ask her to type up his writings to send to ‘Punch’ as he was concerned that they would recognise his handwriting. ‘Margery’ became Marjorie Murray-Rust who would refer to Christopher Milne as ‘a shy but thoroughly brave man, attentive to his family and deeply concerned about conservation’. Christopher Milne would refer to Marjorie as ‘Chief Librarian and Keeper of the Archives’ and the two were very close. Marjorie knew more than anyone that despite Christopher’s professed dislike of the Pooh stories, he had great love for Ashdown Forest and indeed his father. He was present for the opening of a reinforced ‘Poohsticks’ bridge in 1979 and helped a successful campaign in the 1980s by the local council to buy Ashdown Forest to save it from private developers. A very near fine, tight, clean copy in near fine, slightly creased and rubbed dustwrapper. A unique and extraordinary association copy.

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