THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT by Potter, Beatrix. Illustrated by Beatrix Potter

Strangeways. 1902. Very good condition with no wrapper.1st ed edition. This is the second privately printed edition of Peter Rabbit, of which only 200 copies were published. The book is in small format with light brown paperboards (originally light olive green, now faded) showing a line drawing of Peter with his siblings on the front cover. The book has a colour frontispiece and 41 line drawings, each with one or two sentences on the opposite page. Beatrix Potter began to write her picture letters for children at the age of 26 and these were to become the basis for her books. The first of these letters, written in 1893, was sent to Noel, the five year old son of her former governess, Annie Carter. The story, based on her own pet rabbit named Peter, tells the tale of a naughty little rabbit who found himself in trouble when he strayed into the garden of a certain Mr. McGregor. The letter was a great success and was followed by many more in subsequent years to Noel and his brothers and sisters. Encouraged by the popularity of her letters Beatrix thought of making a little book about Peter Rabbit. She made the story a little longer and added some new pictures and in 1900 she sent the story to at least six different publishers - all rejected it. Beatrix then decided to have it printed privately and, in 1901, 250 copies were published priced at 1/6 each. They sold so well that in 1902 she had a further 200 copies printed with slightly amended text and this is the edition we are offering. The covers have a few very faint marks with a small ink note on the front cover ("7 to 9") and there is a small red mark on last blank page. There is light foxing to the front and rear endpapers and title page. There are one or two light foxspots to contents which otherwise are beautifully bright and clean. A lovely copy of this exceptionally rare Beatrix Potter book.