GUEST: This is an original illustration done by H.A.

Rey for the first Curious George book.

It was drawn in Paris just before the start of World War II.

So 85 years ago, the German army was approaching Paris, and the Reys, uh, who were German Jews, managed to escape on bicycles that Rey made himself out of bicycle parts.

And they escaped with this drawing in their backpack and made it out of France and eventually to America.

My father was... worked for the Houghton Mifflin Company that published, uh, the first H.A.

Rey books, including Curious George.

He became sort of like an uncle to us children.

He was a wonderful character.

And so when I got married he gave it to us as a wedding present.

APPRAISER: What's your favorite thing about this illustration in particular?

GUEST: I like the happiness.

Curious George, uh, and the whole escape of the Reys from Paris are intertwined.

They got into serious trouble in Paris and escaped.

And all of the Curious George" books have the same theme of Curious George getting into trouble and escaping and then finding happiness.

And here he is finding happiness in the zoo.

APPRAISER: So the work, uh, is dated from 1940, but it also is inscribed to you when he gave you the gift, uh, on your wedding.

GUEST: It says, uh, "To Christopher and Mary Jane, "with love and all good wishes from the Reys.

July 20, 1968."

APPRAISER: H.A.

Rey, and Margret Rey were both from Germany.

They, I think, knew each other when they were quite young and then kind of got reunited later in life, and ultimately got married in 1935 and moved to the very romantic city of Paris.

As the war went on, it did become a little bit too dangerous for them to stay.

And the story of them getting out is remarkable, on bike with not very much at all, and only five manuscripts with them.

So to have something that came out of that time, left Paris with them, he thought prized enough to bring along, and to have that then given to you many years later, too.

I'm sure he entrusted it to you and, and was definitely feeling like it was a special thing to pass on.

GUEST: Mm.

APPRAISER: The work is a combination of charcoal, watercolor, colored pencil on paper.

On the back there is an inscription.

GUEST: It says, "Christopher.

This is the original drawing for the end page of the first Curious George book, done while we were living in France.

Ancient history, isn't it?

APPRAISER: In the larger market of the art world and illustration art, this has everything going for it.

It's from the first book.

It's the final illustration.

George is having so much fun.

That smile.

It's what we all think of when we think of, of Curious George.

They don't come to market a lot, so they're they're also kind of quite rare in that way.

An auction estimate would be $15,000 to $25,000.

GUEST: Okay.

That's great.

Thank you.

APPRAISER: An insurance value should be $30,000.

GUEST: Okay, great.

Thank you.

I'll, I'll call my broker.

(chuckles)