Unknownsoldier’s Kampkatart fromww2is dismissedby expertsbutwins Twitteradulation
ONE of the most remarkable works of art we have ever had the privilege to handle has emerged after languishing in a loft for 50 years – and it’s sent Twitter into viral raptures of delight.
Two manuscript illustrated books packed with drawings by an unknown Second World War soldier in 1943 is set for auction. The artwork and words are quirky, fun, gentle, charming – and all drawn and written, complete with spelling errors, from the perspective of the army camp cat.
When Hansons expert Jim Spencer shared some illustrations on Twitter, and revealed the books had been dismissed by others, his post received around 650 retweets and nearly 2,000 likes and comments.
But for his expert eye those illustrations could have been lost forever. A vendor approached him as a last roll of the dice. They’d taken the folders to a roadshow event where they were described as ‘just prints’ and nothing of significance. They then took them to a war museum, having considered donating them, but again were met with a dismissive response.
Jim took one glance and swiftly ascertained the opposite. He told the vendor: “They aren’t prints. It’s simply superb art. Naive, charming, untrained art, but deceptively clever in its composition and style. The soft crayon reminds me of work by artist and illustrator Raymond Briggs. All the incidental detail is amazing.”
The books are bound in crude wrap-around folders constructed from salvaged army supplies. It’s like a beautiful children’s book. The vendor’s uncle befriended the artist while in camp. The artist went off to fight and didn’t come back. They’ve been in a loft ever since. We want the world to see his creations.
The author is Little Purr, the camp cat – or kamp kat, he didn’t go to school after all – and the books view everyday life from the cat’s perspective.
Consequently, we see snippets of life observed by our feline storyteller such as Maurice the Mess Officer having a sly taste of a banger (sausage); a football match, the cell for the naughty soldiers, the ‘charr waller’ enjoying his tea; Curley doing the spud bashin’; the medical room full of ‘pore urted soldiers’ and Mush the rat catcher ‘wi sum of mi dreaded enemies.’
The scene is set on a page entitled
‘The Alterbyografy of a kamp kat.’ It reads: ‘I was born in a gurd room. My mum wos a kookouse kat. I don’t know much about dad cos he was a bit of a rover and left my mum when I was born.
‘My ‘ome was a box bi the stove. I had 2 sisters and a brothur. Wen us grue up a bit them others wos took away to nice omes an me was left in gard room an made a fuss of. My mum went orf wif someone else and I was left alone. The solgers all liked me and wood bring me sum of their milkie and bits of skrap meat to eat an’ I grue up to be a nice pretty kat...’
The spelling adds to the childlike charm and fits in beautiful with the imagery. Also, bearing in mind these books were created 79 years ago, what we also have is a fascinating historical record giving a flavour of camp life during the 193945 conflict.
For Jim, a remarkable find often starts as a gut feeling. For example, last year he spotted a medieval globe that went on to sell for £116,000. Yet again he has hit upon something special but he reached out to the public to seek their opinion.
In his tweet he wrote: “This is one of the most remarkable works of art I’ve handled. But it’s one of those things where I need someone to listen to me, so people of Twitter please take a look.”
They did - and the response was overwhelming: ‘I love these!!! What a fabulous collection, full of captured moments in the camp. A whole range of characters and little incidental things. I love the cat perspective of things. The drawings are exquisite! Wow! I would love this book.’
‘These are absolutely wonderful, and deserve to have a wide audience. Truly both art and historical record.’
‘Holy moly—i don’t have sufficient exclamation, but these are SO striking, beautiful, affecting... I don’t know how this thread ended up in my TL, but it’s genuinely beautiful. I’m awed and can’t really say why… what a gift.’
‘Please get these published as a children’s book or series of children’s books…’
‘This is magnificent! The quality, the commitment, the insight, the charm - appalled that they were rejected by people who really should have known better.’
‘I agree, can’t believe the vendor was met with so much dismissal and compete lack of interest when he tried to show people. I was completely blown away …’
‘These are absolutely spectacular! I’m so glad that they made it into the hands of someone who recognises them for being the treasures that they are.’
The love for these manuscripts means we’re yet to decide on the estimate. But look out for the action result – it could be spectacular.
Further entries invited for the Summer Library Auction. Jim Spencer will be at Etwall Auction Centre, Derbyshire, today, 1-4pm to offer free valuation/consignment of books, manuscripts, maps, prints, ephemera and autographs. Free clock and musical instrument valuations available May 6, 10-1pm. To book an appointment, email service@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988.