Exciting news has emerged with the discovery of two original illustrations for Rudyard Kipling’s beloved The Jungle Book, which had been lost for over a hundred years. These captivating watercolors were found hanging unnoticed in a family home in London for many decades.
This remarkable find brings the total number of known surviving original illustrations to just six out of an original set of sixteen. The other four surviving pieces are now housed in various private collections, as well as institutions like the Natural History Museum and the National Trust.
The first illustration, created by Edward Detmold, showcases Mowgli alongside Bagheera, the majestic black panther. The second artwork, painted by Edward’s twin brother, Charles Maurice Detmold, features Cold Lairs, the mysterious abode of the ‘Monkey People’ or Bandar-log.
These stunning pieces are set to go under the hammer at a London auction hosted by Roseberys on March 10, with estimates suggesting they could each fetch around $20,000. The owners of this extraordinary find, who wish to remain anonymous, expressed their astonishment at the paintings’ significance.
“These drawings were never regarded as ‘important’ in our family; they were simply part of our home,” they shared. “Learning that they contribute to the visual history of Kipling’s The Jungle Book has been a delightful surprise.”
Created in 1903 for the deluxe portfolio titled Sixteen Illustrations of Subjects from Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’, commissioned by Macmillan & Co in 1902, these illustrations were part of a limited release of just 500 copies. This portfolio was published separately from the book, which first came out in 1894.
The original Jungle Book featured a collection of stories that Kipling had previously published, accompanied by illustrations from various artists, including his father. The first standard printed edition that included the Detmold illustrations was released by Macmillan in 1908, showcasing all sixteen plates along with a frontispiece illustrated by the Detmold twins.
Unfortunately, the 1903 portfolios have become exceedingly rare as their large plates were often removed for individual framing. Only one complete copy is known to be in the U.S. Library of Congress.
“To have the chance to bid on two of the six known surviving original watercolors is an incredibly rare opportunity,” remarked Lara L’vov-Basirov from the Roseberys auction house. “Considering how often the printed versions of these illustrations were treated as works of art, it’s remarkable that some remain intact,” she added.
These illustrations made a significant impact when the portfolio was first published, receiving rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, with the Guardian notably praising the watercolors we have today.
