We came across a rare deluxe copy of Beatrix Potter's second title 'The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin', published by Frederick Warne & Co., London and New York, 1903.
Upon researching the title, we came discovered the publishing history of how this little book came to be...
Endpapers
In 1903, Frederick Warne decided to move to a more colourful look for Potter’s increasing series of books. He asked Potter to design a pictorial endpaper that featured a selection of different characters from across the different stories. She produced a finished design featuring Old Brown, Squirrel Nutkin, Peter Rabbit and mice from the Tailor of Gloucester.
Dedication
The story of Squirrel Nutkin first appeared in a letter to Norah Moore on 25 September 1901. The book is dedicated to Norah, who was the daughter of Potter’s former governess, Annie Carter Moore. Potter copied both the letter’s text and illustrations when preparing the story for publication.
Dedication
The story of Squirrel Nutkin first appeared in a letter to Norah Moore on 25 September 1901. The book is dedicated to Norah, who was the daughter of Potter’s former governess, Annie Carter Moore. Potter copied both the letter’s text and illustrations when preparing the story for publication.
Bindings
For The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Potter chose a special deluxe cloth binding, with a ‘flowered lavender chintz’ from her grandfathers calico printing works in Manchester. Predicting that the lettering might not show on fancy cloth, she had the title and her name printed in gold on vellum labels.
Illustrations
Potter was both a distinguished illustrator and a storyteller. Text and illustrations were equally important components of her stories from the outset. Her concern with the interdependence of text and image can be in The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. Each opening consists of a page of text paralleled by a full-page illustration.
Potter preferred the recently introduced three-colour, half-tone process rather than the tradition colour wood engraving or chromolithography previously found in late-19th-century children’s books. For The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Warne employed Hentschel to prepare zinc printing blocks.
Our copy
Potter preferred the recently introduced three-colour, half-tone process rather than the tradition colour wood engraving or chromolithography previously found in late-19th-century children’s books. For The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Warne employed Hentschel to prepare zinc printing blocks.
Our copy
We're offering a good copy of this 110 year old book for sale - it's offered in an unrestored state with the spine missing, however overall the condition is good for it's age with all illustrations present.
Want to complete your collection?
Please visit our eBay listing here which currently has this delightful edition of a rare Squirrel Nutkin deluxe edition available to buy. Prices start from £200 and we post worldwide.
Sources
Victoria & Albert Museum, Beatrix Potter – The Business of Books http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/b/beatrix-potter-business-of-books/
Lear, Linda (2007), Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, New York: St. Martin's Press
Want to complete your collection?
Please visit our eBay listing here which currently has this delightful edition of a rare Squirrel Nutkin deluxe edition available to buy. Prices start from £200 and we post worldwide.
Sources
Victoria & Albert Museum, Beatrix Potter – The Business of Books http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/b/beatrix-potter-business-of-books/
Lear, Linda (2007), Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature, New York: St. Martin's Press
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