An original sketch that is the first-ever depiction of the game Poohsticks, played by author A A Milne's popular characters - Pooh Bear and his friends, is expected to fetch up to 50,000 pounds at an auction here.
The pencil drawing, by Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator E H Shepard, still has a perforated edge from where he ripped it from his sketchbook.
The sketch shows Pooh and Christopher Robin dropping sticks from a river bridge. In the game Poohsticks, the owner of the first stick to float from under the bridge is the winner.
The game was invented by Milne and the drawing appeared in his 1928 book 'The House At Pooh Corner'.
The 9in by 5in sketch, owned by a friend of the artist's wife, Norah, is expected to fetch 50,000 pounds when sold at Sotheby's in London on December 10, the 'Daily Express' reported.
Sotheby's specialist Philip Errington called it "one of the most famous illustrations in children's literature".
Another drawing, the first Shepard ever did in colour, which shows Christopher Robin struggling with his blue braces, is also up for auction.
