Bonhams 1793 : POTTER (BEATRIX) - WEATHERLY (FREDERIC E.) A Happy Pair... Illustrated by H.B.P., FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY BEATRIX POTTER, [1890]

Bonhams magazines

My Bonhams

Advanced search

19 Mar 2013 14:00 GMT London, Knightsbridge
Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Historical Photographs
Back to auction 20751

[POTTER (BEATRIX)]

WEATHERLY (FREDERIC E.) A Happy Pair... Illustrated by H.B.P., FIRST AND ONLY EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY BEATRIX POTTER, 6 full-page chromolithographed illustrations by Potter, soiling and staining, title with lower portion rubbed away (obscuring words "by H.B.P."), last leaf with small piece torn from blank upper corner, original chromolithographed stiff wrappers with 2 illustrations, stitched as issued but with renewed tied chord and new holes (these with tears where pulled), stained and ceased, trimmed at inner edges, outer corners cut [V & A 1765], square 12mo, 120 x 98mm., Hildesheimer & Faulkner, [1890]

Estimate:

£6,000 - 8,000
€7,000 - 9,300
US$ 9,100 - 12,000

Footnotes

THE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PRINT OF BEATRIX POTTER'S CHARACTERISTIC ILLUSTRATIONS. Potter's first efforts to have her illustrations published met with little success when she sent some Christmas card designs to Marcus Ward, who swiftly returned them to her. "Following a suggestion from her brother, she sent some of her rabbit drawings to Hildesheimer & Faulkner, a greetings-card publisher, who to her amazement and delight sent her a checque for £6 by return, with a request for more. The company then made cards from some of her drawings, and others they used as illustrations to a set verses by Frederic E. Weatherly in a booklet called A Happy Pair. At 24 Beatrix had begun her professional career" (Judy Taylor, The Artist and Her World, p.17). Potter continued to supply Hildesheimer & Faulkner, and subsequently Ernest Nister, with designs for greeting cards and annuals. She also sent sketches to other publishers; although Frederick Warne returned them as unsuitable, they did express an interest in her ideas and drawings, and thus began an association which would eventually lead to the publication of Peter Rabbit.

Category: Books / Books, Maps and Manuscripts

Auction terms and conditions