Beatrix: The Original Potter

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.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit 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 [Find this copy] [All copies of The Tale of Peter Rabbit]	The Tailor of Gloucester 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 [Find this copy] [All copies of The Tailor of Gloucester]
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck 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 [Find this copy] [All copies of The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck]	The Fairy Caravan 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 [Find this copy] [All copies of The Fairy Caravan]
The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies 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 [Find this copy] [All copies of The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies]	The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin 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 [Find this copy] [All copies of The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin]