Books

First Rackham edition, trade issue. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens was the most popular Christmas gift book for 1906. The story of Peter Pan had its genesis in Barrie's 1902 novel The Little White Bird, in which the central chapters tell of a child "who escaped from being a human when he was seven days old... and flew back to Kensington Gardens". Barrie developed the story into a play (first performed in 1904, but not published until 1928), this book of 1906 (the first to appear with the name of the character in the title) and, finally, the novel Peter and Wendy which was published in 1911. Quarto (240 x 180 mm). Finely bound in mid 20th-century red morocco by Bayntun-Rivière, spine with two raised bands lettered in gilt, ornate floral gilt decoration with white onlay to central compartment, similar design as cornerpieces with purple morocco onlay to covers, turn-ins with gilt floral tooling, French curl patterned marbled endpapers, edges gilt. Colour frontispiece and 49 coloured plates tipped onto heavy grey paper as issued, with captioned tissue guards, black and white illustrations in the text, all by Rackham. Near-contemporary bookplate of Muriel Siddeley (d. 1988) to front pastedown. A couple of faint spots to contents, else fine. Latimore & Haskell, p. 27, Riall p. 74.

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.