Books

First commercially published edition, fourth edition (1903) of 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' - grey boards - leaf-patterned endpapers. A very good (or better) copy with one neat name to the front endpaper. Crease and breaking of the front pastedown, a few small marks, rubbing to the head and foot of the spine - strengthening to the gutters front and rear. The first trade edition has leaf-pattern endpapers and the text "wept big tears" on p. 51 - this, the fourth, shares the leaf patterned endpapers, but has "shed big tears" on page 51. Linder, p. 421; Quinby 2.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and returns home to his mother, who puts him to bed after dosing him with tea. The tale was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, son of Potter's former governess Annie Carter Moore, in 1893. It was revised and privately printed by Potter in 1901 after several publishers' rejections, but it was printed in a trade edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902. The book was a success, and multiple reprints were issued in the years immediately following its debut. It has been reprinted multiple times since then and is regarded as one of the most iconic children's books.