Books

First Rackham edition, trade issue, inscribed by Rackham with an original ink sketch to the half-title, dated 23 February 1913. 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 this 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 by the Chelsea Bindery in red morocco, spine lettered and decorated with floral tools in compartments gilt, raised bands, multiple gilt fillets to boards and turn-ins gilt, dark green endpapers, gilt edges. Tipped-in colour frontispiece as issued and 49 plates by Rackham on dark grey paper with printed tissue guards. Couple of minor marks to the gilt edge, an excellent copy finely bound. 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.