"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. "
— Oscar Wilde
Beatrix Potter (Helen Beatrix Potter) | First Editions
1866 - 1943
Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943) was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Potter had an isolated childhood, separate from other children, and educated by governesses. However, her numerous pets and holidays in the Lake District, culminated in a love of landscape, flora and fauna. These became the subjects of her paintings, and literary works. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Although prevented from higher education by society's attitudes to women at the time, Potter's study and watercolors of fungi led to her being widely respected in the field of mycology. She also had a successful career in farming and breeding, based in Hill Top Farm in a village in the Lake District. Potter wrote over 30 books, the best known being her 24 children's tales. On her death in 1943, Potter left almost all her property to the National Trust. She is credited with preserving much of the land that now constitutes the Lake District National Park. Her legacy lives on through her books, which continue to sell throughout the world in many languages; her stories have been retold in song, film, ballet, and animation, and her life depicted in a feature film and television film.
See below our stock of Beatrix Potter First Editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material.
Results 1 - 6 (of 6)
The Pie and the Patty-Pan.
New York, NY: Frederick Warne and Co., 1905. [Children's Illustrated] FIRST US EDITION. (19 x 15cm), pp.52. With 10 chromolithographic plates including a frontispiece by the author, and many more in-text illustrations. Publisher's blue paper-covered boards with white titles to spine and upper board, and a small circular chromolithographic illustration..... More
The Pie and the Patty-Pan.
New York, NY: Frederick Warne and Co., no date [circa 1920s]. [Children's Illustrated] VINTAGE US EDITION. (18 X 15cm), pp.52. With 10 colour plates including a frontispiece, as well as numerous in-text illustrations by the author. Publisher's address given as 26 East 22d Street, making this edition no earlier than..... More
The Pie and the Patty-Pan.
London: Frederick Warne and Company, No date [circa 1915]. [Children's Illustrated] EARLY EDITION. Octavo (19 x 15cm), pp.52. Ten colour plates including frontispiece, and numerous in-text illustrations. Publisher's maroon paper over boards, with white titles to spine and upper, circular illustrated plate laid onto upper, lilac illustrated endpapers. Ownership inscriptions..... More
The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse.
New York, NY: Frederick Warne and Co., no date [1918]. [Children's Illustrated] FIRST US EDITION. Sextodecimo (14 x 11cm), pp.85; [1]. With a chromolithographic plate by the author facing every page of text. No 'Ltd.' to title page; endpapers match plate XV in Quinby. Publisher's brown paper-covered boards with white..... More
The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin.
New York: Frederick Warne and Co., 1903. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. Sexto-Decimo (14 x 11cm), pp.86. Illustrated with 27 coloured plates. Publisher's blue paper-covered boards with illustration laid-down to upper. Endpapers conform to Quinby plate II, with the illustration of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle showing the soles of her shoes (employed 1904-6), the..... More
The Tale of Two Bad Mice.
New York, NY: Frederick Warne and Co., no date [1904]. [Children's Illustrated] FIRST US EDITION. Sextodecimo (14 x 11cm), pp.85; [1]. With a chromolithographic illustration facing every page of text. Endpapers match plate II in Quinby; publisher's address given as 36 East 22d Street. Publisher's maroon paper-covered boards with white..... More
Results 1 - 6 (of 6)