Walt Disney drawing archive valued at $200,000

A rare archive of early drawings by Walt Disney will be offered at Bonhams as part of the TCM: Treasures from the Dream Factory sale.

The auction brings together pieces of Hollywood history and will take place on November 23. The archive is valued at $150,000-200,000.

Disney rat Heritage
The collection features possibly the earliest Disney drawings on the market

The drawings date to the first world war era and include topical and satirical illustrations of trenches, soldiers, rats and politicians.

They are described by Bonhams as "some of the earliest and most extensive drawings by Walt Disney still in private hands".

The scrapbook, thought to be the earliest Disney drawings ever to appear for sale, features 13 unique characters.

"It is significant that rodents figure heavily into two of the vignettes present here, a wonderful foreshadowing Walt's greatest creation, Mickey Mouse," says Bonhams.

Disney attempted to join the US army in 1918 but was refused as he was too young. Instead he joined the Red Cross and was deployed to France, where he served as an ambulance driver following the armistice.

While over there he drew extensively during his downtime. It's unknown whether this book was with him in France, although the dates do appear to line up.

We have a copy of Walt Disney's America, signed by various Disney animators and voice actors.

Other lots in the sale include a dress worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz.

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