A A Milne

A A MILNE autograph d1956. British author best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh. However Milne was a noted writer, primarily as a playwright, before the huge success of Pooh, which much to his later frustration went onto overshadow all of his previous work. His two childrens books Winnie The Pooh (1926) and The House on Pooh Corner (1928) both illustrated by E H Shepard have become all-time classics. At the time of Milnes death aged 74 in 1956, the rights to the Pooh books were left to four beneficiaries ; his family / The Royal Literary Fund / Westminster School and The Garrick Club. His widow sold her rights to the Pooh characters to the Walt Disney Corporation which has made many Pooh cartoon movies, a Disney Channel television show, as well as selling much Pooh-related merchandise. In 2001, the other beneficiaries sold their interest in the estate to the Disney Corporation for $350m ; previously Disney had been paying twice-yearly royalties to these beneficiaries. The estate of  E H Shepard also received a sum in the deal. The copyright on Pooh expires in 2026. In 2008, a collection of original illustrations featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and his animal friends sold for more than £1.2m at auction in Sotheby's London. Forbes magazine ranks Winnie the Pooh the most valuable fictional character – in 2002 Winnie the Pooh merchandising products alone had annual sales of more than $5.9 billion. He died aged 74 in 1956.