LONDON, July 18 (UPI) -- "The Rabbits' Christmas Party," an original watercolor illustration by Beatrix Potter, has been sold for nearly $600,000 at an auction in London.
The auction house Sotheby's said it had expected the illustration by the famous 19th Century children's book author to sell for between $80,000 and $120,000.
Instead, the watercolor fetched the highest price ever paid for a book illustration sold at auction, the BBC said Friday.
The charming scene depicting bunnies celebrating Christmas was bought by a private English collector, the British broadcaster reported.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the price achieved for this unique watercolor," Dr. Philip W. Errington, Sotheby's specialist in children's books and illustrations, told the BBC. "The painting is one of the finest original artworks by the author and artist Beatrix Potter to be offered for sale at auction."
