An original hand-painted double-spread for the 1984 Buttons Annual with a pair of hand-drawn strips for The Amazing Adventures of Morph. This lot comes from the personal collection of renowned cartoon illustrator and author Peter Longden.
All three of these published pieces are by Longden. The double-spread is hand-painted onto an illustration board, the reverse of which is signed by Longden in black ink. It features Postman Pat, King Rollo, Morph, Mrs Goggins, and others. "Buttons p62" and "Buttons p63" are inscribed along the lower edge, identifying the artwork as the piece created for the annual's double-page spread across these page numbers.
The first is rendered on an illustration board and comprises hand-drawn ink sketches with printed scene descriptions adhered below each. "933 Pippin P97" is inscribed along the lower edge in blue ink. The second is executed on paper, hand-drawn and hand-painted, inscribed "Pippin H/S 86" and "Page 45" in black ink. Printed scene descriptions are affixed to a transparent overlay marked "Pippin p.45 S/P" in blue ink.
The colourised preliminary exhibits a tear along its bottom edge. Dimensions (Annual 84): 54 cm x 42.5 cm (21.25" x 16.75")
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About the Artist:
Cartoon artist and author Peter Longden has written twenty-two children's books and illustrated a further twenty-four, including several Noddy titles, Rupert the Bear, and a book by Jeffrey Archer. His own creations-Major Tom, The Fun Guys, Fruit and Veg, Cannelloni, Detective Duffy, and the Globs-showcase his playful approach to storytelling and character design.
Over four decades working on comics, annuals, and magazines, Longden built a substantial portfolio of original published work featuring beloved television and children's favourites such as Bugs Bunny, Postman Pat, Tom and Jerry, Budgie the Little Helicopter, Puppy in My Pocket, Jess the Cat, Spot the Dog, Charlie Chalk, and Bertha. His hand-drawn pieces remain noted for their charm, clarity, and classic cartoon craftsmanship.