A COLLECTOR will need deep pockets to become the owner of a very rare copy of the first book by Lakeland children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter.
The May 30 sale by Chiswick Auctions of London includes (LOT 155) an example of the famous author’s first privately printed version of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Just 250 copies were ordered of this first printing.
This book is being sold with an example of the first commercially printed version of the same book by publishers Frederick Warne in 1902.
Together the books are expected to sell for between £12,000 and £15,000
Miss Potter had experienced rejection from at least six publishers before deciding to issue The Tale of Peter Rabbit herself in 1901.
The first 250 copies were ready in December 1901 and proved such a success that the author ordered a further 200 copies in February 1902.
Publisher Frederick Warne then expressed interest in the book and commercial publication followed in October 1902.
The London sale has many other rare and early printings of Beatrix Potter books, including (LOT 157) a 1904 first edition and first printing of The Tale of Two Bad Mice with an expected price of £300 to £400.
A first edition, first printing, of the 1906 book The Story of Miss Moppet (LOT 162) should make £500 to £700 and a 1918 first edition (LOT 171) of The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse is expected to sell for £500 to £700.
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