The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Warne, 1902.
First published edition, first issue with "wept big tears" on p.51. 12mo. Original dark brown paper covered boards lettered in white with pictorial onlay to upper cover of Peter in his blue jacket. Leaf-patterned endpapers. Illustrated throughout in colour by the author. A superb, fine copy, clean and crisp with no wear to mention. Internally fresh and tight with just occasional offsetting to the blank leaves. An exceptional, apparently scarcely read copy. Housed in a full Morocco clamshell box.
Originally conceived in 1893 in the form of a letter with pictures to cheer up an ill child, Beatrix Potter developed the story of Peter Rabbit into a book for publication in 1901. She sent her manuscript to at least six publishers only to have it refused by each of them, so made the decision to publish the book herself whilst continuing the search for a publisher who would issue the book in accordance with her wishes. In the end Frederick Warne & Co. agreed to publish the book but Potter was forced to compromise by having all the illustrations in colour. In order to achieve this, eleven of the illustrations were removed and the text was edited. Some of the text which was removed for the published edition was later used in The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904).
The book was an instant success and has never been out of print since publication. It is now regarded as one of the cornerstones of children's literature. Its popularity and fragility mean that very few copies of the first edition have survived in acceptable condition. Copies, such as this, in nigh perfect condition are almost unheard of.
Stock ID: 43085
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