Lot 5166: WRIGHT, DARE. 1914-2001. "Checkers," gelatin silver print,

"Checkers," gelatin silver print, 230 x 210 mm, illustration for The Lonely Doll Learns a Lesson (New York: Random House, 1961), matted and framed.

Born in Canada, Wright was an actress, fashion model and photographer best known for the ten Lonely Doll books first published in 1957. Wright used as her models the Lenci doll called Edith she had as a child and two Teddy bears she picked up at F.A.O. Schwartz as Mr. Bear and Little Bear. The first book made the New York Times Bestseller List and Mme. Alexander created a Lonely Doll in 1958. In 2010, The Guardian in London chose The Lonely Doll as one of the 10 Best Illustrated Children's Books of all time for its "glamour, mystery and melancholy." The pictures and text create a haunting, almost surrealistic mood. Recently it was denounced for its depicting Mr. Bear spanking Edith, but among its many defenders is fashion designer Vera Wang. Jean Nathan's fascinating biography The Search for Dare Wright: The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll appeared in 2004.