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Curious George Escapes the Nazis

A new museum show chronicles the extraordinary story behind the beloved monkey’s origin and how he helped his creators flee Europe during World War II. VIEW OUR GALLERY.

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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for “This is George. He lived in Africa,” published in The Original Curious George (1998), France, 1939–40, watercolor, charcoal, and color pencil on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for “He crawled into bed and fell asleep at once,” published in The Original Curious George (1998), France, 1939–40, watercolor, charcoal, and color pencil on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, black color separation for “At breakfast George’s friend said,” Curious George Rides a Bike (1952), watercolor and charcoal on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for “One day George saw a man. He had on a large yellow straw hat,” published in The Original Curious George (1998), France, 1939–40, watercolor, charcoal, and color pencil on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, black color separation for “Finally the show was on,” Curious George Rides a Bike (1952), watercolor and charcoal on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for “George climbed up until he was in the sunshine again, high above the rain cloud,” Raffy and the 9 Monkeys (1939), later published as Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys (1942), Paris, 1939, watercolor on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for “Whiteblack the Penguin has a serious talk with his friends . . .,” Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World (2000), France, late 1939–early 1940, watercolor, color pencil, charcoal, and pen and ink on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, cover of dummy for La Rue: Découpages à colorer (unpublished), Paris, c. 1938, pen and ink, color pencil, and crayon on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

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H. A. Rey, découpage for La Rue: Découpages à colorer (unpublished), Paris, c. 1938, pen and ink, color pencil, and crayon on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

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H. A. Rey, découpage for La Rue: Découpages à colorer (unpublished), Paris, c. 1938, pen and ink, color pencil, and crayon on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

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H. A. Rey, final illustration for How Do you Get There? (1941), Paris, early 1940, watercolor on board. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for How Do you Get There? (1941), Paris, early 1940, watercolor on board. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, final illustration for How Do you Get There? (1941), Paris, early 1940, watercolor on board. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2010 by HMH
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H. A. Rey, unpublished drawing, United States, c. 1950s–60s, pencil on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Richard P. Goodbody Inc.
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H. A. Rey, wedding announcement of Margret and H.A. Rey, Rio de Janeiro, August 1935, printed on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

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H. A. Rey, New Year Greeting Card for 1942, printed on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

Richard P. Goodbody Inc.
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Margret and H. A. Rey at a book signing, United States, c. 1945. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

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Margret and H. A. Rey, United States, late 1940s. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi.

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