Long before Harry, there was Beatrix Potter, who comes to life on the big screen in Miss Potter, starring Rene Zellweger. Best known for Peter Rabbit,
Beatrix was also a botanical scientist and illustrator who recorded her
daily thoughts in secret code. She would go on to become a farmer and
sheepbreeder, in addition to having written her much-loved and now
highly collectable children's books.
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Beatrix shopped her Peter Rabbit manuscript, only to
have it rejected by six publishers. Not giving up, she decided to print
it privately while continuing her search. 500 copies were printed in the
1901 first run, and 200 in the second run in 1902. The follies of
mischievous Peter in Mr. MacGregor's garden has taught generations of
children to listen to their mothers.
Privately printed for the author by
Strangeways, London, 1902. First edition, second printing. One of 200
copies printed privately by the author. Olive green paper boards
lettered in black and with line drawings of Peter Rabbit with his
siblings. Due to the limited print run and the fragility of the
privately printed edition of Peter Rabbit, copies of this book are now very rare indeed. £27,500
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When the tailor of Gloucester becomes sick and cannot finish
an elaborate waistcoat in time for the Mayor's Christmas day wedding,
the mice finish it for him, buttonholes and all.
Frederick Warne, London, 1903. First
commercially published edition. Original grey-green paper covered boards
lettered in white, with a pictorial onlay to the upper cover. In the
very rare original glassine dustwrapper. A superb fine copy, which is
clean and bright having been protected by the glassine. The dustwrapper
provides fascinating contemporary information on Potter’s books and
related merchandise as well as showing the book in its most original and
complete form. £9,350
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Poor Jemima Puddle-Duck. She's just searching for a
nesting place to lay her eggs. The naive Jemima is "helped" by a
gentlemanly fox, who provides her with a comfortable nest of feathers at
his home in the hopes of securing himself a nice stuffed duck dinner.
London: Frederick Warne and Co., 1908.
Original grey boards (some are green, no priority) with color pictorial
onlay. First edition of Beatrix Potter's twelfth book This copy is in
very good-plus condition - a few very minor cover marks, slight wear on
the rear joint. £460
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The enchanting story of a travelling circus called Alexander
and William's Circus - which was truly magical for it was invisible to
humans.
Philadelphia: David McKay Company, 1929.
Bound in original green cloth, large color plate pastedown, bright gilt
lettering and decoration to spine. Mild spotty fading to rear board;
upper corner has faint damp stain, not through board and some wrinkling;
spine and front board edges mild spotty fading with mild wrinkling to
spine. Hinges sound, clean text and illustrations. Very tight clean
book, front pastedown clean and clear. £129
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Benjamin Bunny and his children, collectively known as the
Flopsy Bunnies, become "soporific" after filling up on Mr. McGregor’s
overgrown lettuce leaves. When the drowsy bunnies are found by Mr.
McGregor, Thomasina Tittlemouse comes to the rescue.
London: Frederick Warne & Co., 1909. First
edition. 12mo. (14,5 x 11cm), 84pp., frontispiece, 26 colour plates,
previous owner's inscription, original green pictorial boards, light
crease mark on p.25/6, top of spine repaired; otherwise a very good
copy. Contains the notice board in the picture on page 14 & no robin
on page 81. £287.50
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In Beatrix' second book, this "Tale about a tail - a
tail that belonged to a little red squirrel" teaches the misbehaving
Nutkin that bad things happen when you taunt Old Brown the owl.
London: Frederick Warne & Co.,1903.
First printing with date on title page and no notation of "Author of
Tale Of Peter Rabbit" under Potter's name on title page. A much better
than average copy. The color picture on the cover has a slight tear nad
there is some erased pencil markings on the endpapers. Contents lightly
shaken. £268
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