A get well soon card from Raymond Briggs to Julia MacRae, with an original colour illustration by Briggs of Julia MacRae after a sledging accident she had on Hampstead Heath. A humorous depiction of MacRae on crutches with a swollen bandage encased leg, carrying a shopping bag with the handles in her mouth, a speech bubble quotes ‘BLOOMING SLEDGES!’, and beneath reads: ‘MISS JULIA MACRAE, WORLD BOBSLEIGH CHAMPION AND THE HERO OF HAMPSTEAD HEATH HERE SEEN SLIPPING OUT FOR A DRINK.’
Inside Briggs has inscribed: “For Julia With Love from Raymond. Sorry you’ve come out looking rather like Gentleman Jim!”
Julia MacRae (1934-2023) was an important figure in the world of children’s publishing, some of her significant contributions include Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas. During her career she worked as an editor for Constable, Collins and Hamish Hamilton where she became the first female board member and one of the first women in any publisher’s boardroom. In an interview with ‘Women in Publishing: An Oral History’ MacRae speaks about her experiences as the first female member of the board, and how hard she had to work to get there.
In 1979 she left Hamish Hamilton having become not only the managing director of the children’s book division, but also the director of both Hamilton and its parent company Thomson Books. She established her own imprint Julia MacRae Books, initially part of Franklin Watts, then Walker Books, and finally Random Century.
MacRae worked on Briggs’ books while she was at Hamish Hamilton and she would go on to publish his works under the imprint she established in 1979. The warmth of this inscription and illustration are a testament to her close working relationship with him.
In fine condition, heavy tape residue to blank verso, previously mounted in an album.
