Books

Circa 1910 point of issue verso title page simply stating: "From The Little White Bird". Title page states: "Hodder and Stoughton, Publishers" without "Limited" or "Ltd." which occurred later. Fine dark green cloth boards, gilt embossed cover design and stylized spine titles, light shelf wear. Golden raised cover vignette, rich in subtle detail, of babe Peter playing his pan flute sitting upon a mushroom patch. Deckled pages generally near fine, clean; exterior text block and few at front and back of volume w/light fox. Map of Kensington Gardens on thick light olive matte endpapers at front and back. Includes two dozen color plates with captioned tissue guards and decoration. Beautifully charming and subdued imagery by Arthur Rackham. String-bind good; hinges intact. Rare original white pictorial wrapper not found with other issues, golden titles at front and spine, moderate edge wear, rub; protected in new clear sleeve. Front panel features rendition of twelfth plate from Rackham: "He passed under the bridge and came within full sight of the delectable Gardens". Spine features golden stylized titles and vignette of Peter riding the goat. Front and back flaps are blank. Back panel features Hodder and Stoughton advert for the Presentation Edition of this same Rackham title which was available approximately 1908-1912. Finally, this complete example features the original two-piece pictorial light brown box, reinforced at seams with some rub, missing 3/4" from one corner of flap. Features matching gilt titles and bordered image of Peter passing under bridge. Near fine rarity in same original wrapper in the original protective box. In Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, J.M. Barrie first created Peter Pan as an infant, living a wild and secret life with birds and fairies in the middle of London. Later Barrie let this remarkable child grow a little older and he became the boy-hero of Neverland, making his first appearance with Wendy, Captain Hook, and the Lost Boys. The Peter Pan stories were Barrie's only works for children but, as their persistent popularity shows, their themes of imaginative escape continue to charm even those who long ago left Neverland. Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty at the Edinburgh University Press. 126 pages. Insured post. Size: 12mo - over 6�" - 7�" tall.

Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is one of J.M. Barrie's works that features the character Peter Pan, offering a backstory to the beloved 'boy who wouldn't grow up.' Originally part of Barrie's book 'The Little White Bird' (1902), these chapters were later republished as a stand-alone story detailing Peter's adventures in London's famous Kensington Gardens. It's a tale of fantasy that explores themes of childhood innocence and escapism.