**Original Roald Dahl Sketches For His Memoir ‘Boy’ Set For Auction After Remarkable Discovery**
Unique hand-drawn sketches created by Roald Dahl to accompany his acclaimed memoir *Boy: Tales of Childhood* are to go under the hammer, following their unexpected discovery in the belongings of a former publishing colleague. The collection, considered a rare piece of literary and artistic heritage, is expected to attract significant interest when it is sold as part of Lyon & Turnbull’s books and manuscripts auction in Edinburgh this week.
Dahl, widely celebrated as one of the most influential children’s authors of the 20th century, produced these drawings using a black ballpoint pen for the first edition of *Boy*, published in 1984. Intriguingly, although Dahl wrote and collaborated on many beloved books, *Boy* represents the sole occasion during his nearly 50-year career where he personally contributed artwork to one of his publications.
The collection of sketches is now estimated to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000, according to Lyon & Turnbull auctioneers. Their historical significance is heightened by the connection to Dahl’s real-life childhood anecdotes, as chronicled in *Boy*, one of which includes the author’s infamous practical joke involving a dead mouse and a jar of gobstoppers in a sweetshop. Dahl’s pen-and-ink depiction of a mouse splayed atop the sweets is among the drawings set to be sold, directly illustrating this mischievous escapade.
The background to these unusual artworks lies in a request from Dahl’s publisher, Jonathan Cape, who found themselves without the author’s regular illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake, who was on holiday during the critical build-up to publication. It was under these circumstances that the publisher’s art director, Ian Craig, turned to Dahl for help. The sketches later served as a creative foundation for the final illustrations Craig contributed to the memoir.
Remarkably, these original works surfaced only after Ian Craig’s passing in 2023. They were discovered inside an envelope labelled “Dahl’s drawings & odds and sods” among Craig’s personal effects. The envelope was part of a wider production archive relating to *Boy* that emerges from Craig’s estate. In addition to the original artworks, the archive includes draft designs, editorial correspondence, and page layouts, shedding light on the collaborative and, at times, improvisational process behind the book’s creation.
Commenting on the archive’s significance, Dominic Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull’s specialist in rare books and manuscripts, remarked: “To see Roald Dahl’s unique hand-drawn sketches first-hand is truly exciting. They offer an illuminating glimpse into the transformation of Dahl’s childhood memories, from rough pencil marks to literature cherished by generations. Moreover, these artefacts remind us of the important, often behind-the-scenes roles played by publishing professionals like Ian Craig.”
Craig also played a notable part in naming the memoir. He suggested the simple, evocative title “Boy”, which Dahl enthusiastically accepted in a letter, thanking Craig for offering the “first sensible title” for his book. Craig’s contributions to the project, however, went largely unrewarded in a financial sense; instead, Dahl gifted him a blue cashmere cardigan—a trademark gesture of his appreciation.
Kate Craig, Ian’s widow and herself a former colleague at Jonathan Cape, highlighted that the artwork was created against a deadline dictated by a tight publication schedule. She recounted how Dahl stepped in to provide the standout sketches, which Craig then refined, shaping the visual identity of a memoir that has since become a cornerstone of children’s literature.
As the collection goes to auction, there is palpable anticipation among book collectors, Dahl enthusiasts, and scholars alike. The sketches do not just represent the artistic hand of a master storyteller, but also offer an intimate window into the creative process and close-knit relationships behind one of Britain’s most treasured writers and his collaborators.
With the auction set for Wednesday in Edinburgh, all eyes will be on how these irreplaceable drawings—tangible reminders of Dahl’s mischievous spirit and creative legacy—will fare under the gavel, and who will take on the responsibility of safeguarding them for future generations.