Books

The first version of 'Peter Pan' in the form of a novel for children. First Edition, first impression, undated but 1911. Post 8vo (8 x 4.75 ins); pp [viii] + 267. Printer's name at foot of final numbered page. Twelve plates in total including the frontispiece and an illustrated titlepage, all by FD Bedford. Publisher's original green cloth with gilt lettering and decorations to front and spine, gilt on spine bright while a touch dulled on the front. Points of corners rubbed, ends of spine rolled. Browning to endpapers and some foxing to preliminary pages and very occasionally to text pages. Plates clean. Contemp. gift inscription to first free endpaper with 1912 date. Francis Donkin Bedford (1864-1954) was born in London, studied architecture at South Kensington and the Royal Academy, and worked briefly as an architect before going on to illustrate books, including several of his own. Barrie's much loved story of the Darling family which brought us the one of the most famous first lines in literary history; "All children, except one, grow up". 'Peter Pan', as the work has become known, was originally written as a play entitled 'Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up', first performed in 1904 but not published until 1928, with the book following in 1911. Prior to publication as a novel, the play was first adapted into the 1907 novelisation 'The Peter Pan Picture Book', written by Daniel O'Connor and illustrated by Alice B. Woodward. This was also the first illustrated version of the story.

Peter and Wendy is a novelization of J. M. Barrie's most famous play, Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.