Roald Dahl Original Memoir Sketches Expected to Fetch £20,000-30,000 at Edinburgh Auction

Rare, original black ballpoint pen sketches by celebrated children's author Roald Dahl for his 1984 memoir "Boy" are set to be auctioned in Edinburgh, estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000. These are the only known illustrations Dahl produced during his nearly five-decade career, created when his usual illustrator Quentin Blake was on holiday. The drawings, which include a depiction of a prank involving a dead mouse in a sweet jar, were found in an envelope belonging to Ian Craig, the art director at Jonathan Cape, who used Dahl's sketches as inspiration for the final illustrations. Craig, who passed away in 2023, also came up with the book's title and received a letter of thanks from Dahl, along with one of Dahl's signature blue cashmere cardigans as a token of appreciation. The sketches are part of the production archive from Craig's estate, which includes his designs, original page layouts, and correspondence. According to Lyon & Turnbull's rare books specialist, these one-of-a-kind sketches provide a unique insight into the transformation of Dahl's childhood memories into his printed work, cherished by generations of readers.