441. HANS AND MARGRET REY Authors and illustrators, creators of the mischievous little monkey, Curious George. Born in Hamburg, HANS AUGUSTO REY (1898-1977) aka H.A. REY, met his future wife in 1923. MARGRET REY (1906-1996) was the daughter of Felix Waldstein, a well-known member of the German parliament. The couple left post-war Germany to work in the art field, settling in Paris where they published Raffi et les Neuf Singes (Raffi and the Nine Monkeys). One of the monkeys was the prototype for Curious George. In June 1940 on their bicycles, the Reys, both Jews, fled Paris mere hours ahead of the advancing armies of the Third Reich, to southern France, carrying a number of manuscripts including Curious George. They soon found a publisher in New York for their first Curious George edition, an instant classic, going on to sell more then 27 million copies. A fine lot from the Reys, four pieces in all, includes: a strong content T.L.S. "Margret" sent to a fellow children's book author, dated April 7, 1978, some five months after Hans' death, 1p. small 4to. on Margret's printed letterhead, Cambridge, Mass., in full: "Dear Phyllis, Very belatedly let me thank you for the kind note you wrote me when my dear Hans died. I'm trying to keep busy with our book business and secondary rights evolving from it, like games, puzzles, stuffed toys and recently some TV films, but life is very lonely, and I have been traveling quite a bit to get a way from it. Maybe, who knows, I will show up one day in Chappaqua. Love to the whole family..." Lot also includes an A.L.S. "Hans" to the same recipient and her husband, July 13, 1970, 1p. 4to., on his personal stationery. Drawing an arrow to the printed Waterville Valley, NH address at top, he writes "...this is the reason you didn't find us home-it's the place we've spent our summers since 1952-but that doesn't make me feel less terrible for having missed seeing you. I say 'I' because Margret is at the moment taking a three weeks pottery course at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, on Deer Isle, Maine. When she comes back, she'll feel terrible..." Minor dampstaining to bottom edge, slight wrinkles to right edge, otherwise very good. Also includes a D.S., a rare personal 1969 holiday card printed in black and pink, designed by the Reys, 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" portraying a gleeful elephant and crying donkey depending upon which way the card is held, reading either "Happy days in 69" or "Cheer up in 69". On verso in a quick hand, Margret writes "Miss seeing you! Come to Cambridge! Love to all! M + H", fine. Also includes their personal New Year's greeting card from 1961 (unsigned), 6 1/4" x 9 1/4" with another clever topsy-turvy graphic design, again with donkey and elephant, family cartoon images and winter/summer addresses printed. In center, a message in a spiraling script noting that 1961 is read the same way whether read "Upside down or Downside Up...It hasn't happened since 1881...It won't happen again till 6009". A fine grouping of rare items! $400-600