Lot 714: [ Books ]

Mays (Douglas Lionel, 1900-1991). Children singing in church beside a Christmas tree, gouache with some watercolour and bodycolour, signed lower right, 35 x 18cm (13.75 x 7ins), mounted, together with A choir boy singing, with a mouse poking its head out of his pocket, gouache and bodycolour, monogrammed lower right, 31 x 13.5cm (12.25 x 5.25ins), mounted, plus ÒWhoopsÓ, gouache, heightened with bodycolour, of a small girl in a poncho with a basket full of holly, kicking one wellington boot off, signed lower right, 27 x 20cm (10.5 x 8ins), mounted, plus another similar by Mays, of a small boy trying to putt a golf ball with a large club, signed lower left, 26.5 x 13cm (10.5 x 5ins), mounted. Douglas Lionel Mays studied illustration at Goldsmiths' College. He contributed cartoons to the 'Beano', 'Big Budget', 'Holiday Annual' and the 'Dandy' before his first drawing for 'Punch' was accepted in 1932 (his last was published in 1954). From the 1930s he also illustrated a number of books, mainly children's books, such as Noel Streatfield's 'Tennis Shoes' (1937) and eleven of Buckeridge's Jennings books. As a painter in oil and watercolour he exhibited at the Royal Academy and Royal Society of British Artists. Fougasse, cartoonist and editor of 'Punch' greatly admired Mays and called him Òa really magnificent pen-draughtsmanÓ. (4)
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