Beatrix Potter | The Tale of Peter Rabbit, 1902, first edition, second issue, inscribed by the author

Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Peter Rabbit. [London: privately printed,] February 1902.

FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE (one of c.200 copies printed, with rounded spine), PRESENTATION COPY, signed and inscribed by the author on the front free endpapers ("for Lydia Hammond with love from Beatrix Potter March 28th 02"), 16mo (137 x 110mm), coloured frontispiece and 41 full-page line drawings by the author, original green pictorial boards, crude markings to frontispiece in faded purple ink presumably by a child, careful strengthening to frontispiece, light spotting, some fading to spine and boards, corners slightly bumped, but in general a fine copy

AN ATTRACTIVE COPY OF THE PRIVATELY PRINTED FIRST EDITION OF PETER RABBIT, INSCRIBED TO A FAMILY FRIEND. Beatrix Potter had arranged for her first illustrated animal tale to be privately printed in an edition of 250 copies after it had been rejected by several publishers. It was issued on 16 December 1901 but quickly sold out, so Potter arranged for another 200 copies to be printed in February 1902. A few minor textual changes were made, and the second issue was bound with a more durable rounded spine. The first commercial edition, with coloured plates, appeared the following October. It was an immediate success and marked the beginning of Potter's long association with Frederick Warne & Co.

This copy was inscribed a month after publication by the author to Lydia Hammond (b.1859). She was the niece of Potter's first governess, Margaret (known as Florence) Hammond (d.1916). The Hammonds were held in high affection by all the Potter family. The will of Rupert Potter, Beatrix's father, included bequests to both Margaret and Lydia Hammond (the latter receiving £50). Lydia's sister, another Margaret (known as Daisy), was a lifelong friend of Beatrix Potter and became her neighbour in the Lake District.

PROVENANCE:

Lydia Hammond; her great-nephew Richard Nevison Barnes (1922-1997); by inheritance to the current owner

LITERATURE:

Linder, p. 420; Quinby 1a