P[otter], H[elen] B[eatrix]--Weatherly, Frederick E.

16mo, first and only edition, 6 chromolithographed illustrations, each signed "H.B.P." together with upper wrapper design (repeated from the text) by Beatrix Potter, original pictorial wrappers, gilt edges, tied with gold silk cord finished with two tassels, some light spotting, spotting and soiling to wrappers, contemporary ownership inscription to inside of upper wrapper, spine frayed with loss and tears

V&A 1765; Taylor pp.51-52; Taylor, Whalley, Hobbs and Battrick p.17 and p.57; Journal pp.211-214

The first published book to include illustrations by Beatrix Potter, thought to survive in a very limited number of copies.

In 1890 Beatrix Potter decided to make "a grand effort in the way of Christmas Cards", seeking to raise £16 to buy a printing machine. At the beginning of February she prepared six designs featuring her pet rabbit, Benjamin Bouncer. Potter noted in her journal that "...I was rather impeded by the... idiosyncrasies of Benjamin who has an appetite for certain sorts of paint, but the cards were finished by Easter".

With a list of five publishers' addresses Potter approached the first, Marcus Ward. Rejection was by return of post. The second publishers, Hildesheimer and Faulkner, accepted the designs and sent a cheque for six pounds. Apparently Potter's "first act was to give Bounce... a cupful of hemp seeds, the consequence being that when I wanted to draw him next morning he was partially intoxicated and wholly unmanageable". Mr. Faulkner "showed a mysterious desire" for further cards upon a business meeting in London. Potter also recorded in her journal that "Mr. Faulkner had got a child's book, not of their publication, and showed me some of the pictures with an evident ambition to possess something of the same kind."

Beatrix Potter's watercolours were subsequently published as Christmas and New Year cards. Frederic Weatherly (described by Taylor, Whalley, Hobbs and Battrick as "a prolific writer of doggerel") added verses for this publication which comprises the first book illustrated by Beatrix Potter and pre-dates Peter Rabbit by over a decade.