About this book
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. The story follows Peter Rabbit, a mischievous and disobedient young rabbit, as he ventures into the garden of farmer Mr. McGregor. The tale was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, son of Potter's former governess, in 1893. It was revised and privately printed by Potter in 1901 after several publishers' rejections but was printed in a trade edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902.
From the publisher
(Helen) Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) was an English author and illustrator, botanist, and conservationist, born in Kensington, London best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters such as Peter Rabbit. Educated at home by a succession of governesses, she had little opportunity to mix with other children. Potter had frogs and newts, and even a pet bat. The basis of her many projects and stories were the small animals that she smuggled into the house or observed during family holidays in Scotland and the Lake District. She was encouraged to publish her story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902), but she struggled to find a publisher until it was accepted when she was 36, by Frederick Warne & Co. The small book and her following works were extremely well received and she gained an independent income from the sales. Potter eventually wrote 23 books. These were published in a small format, easy for a child to hold and read. Her writing efforts abated around 1920 due to poor eyesight.
First Edition Identification
Potter's book was initially rejected by publishers, who were looking for color illustrations. Resisting that idea, Potter paid for 250 copies to be printed at her own expense, which she distributed to family and friends in 1901 and shortly needed to print another 200 copies.
Frederick Warne & Co reached out to the author (although they were one of the initial rejectors) asking if she would cut some illustrations and add colors - and eventually, a contract was agreed upon. The first 8,000 copies of the trade edition sold out before printing, and by the end of 1902 28,000 copies were in print; a year after the first commercial publication there were 56,470 copies in print.
Of the first printing, first edition run there were 2,000 deluxe editions bound in either green or yellow cloth. The rest were bound in brown board.
Details
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Title
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press)
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Author
Beatrix Potter
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Binding
Paperback
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Edition
Ill
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Pages
48
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Volumes
1
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Language
ENG
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Publisher
Dodo Press
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Date
2007-09
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Illustrated
Yes
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ISBN
9781406558838 / 1406558834
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Weight
0.18 lbs (0.08 kg)
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Dimensions
9 x 6 x 0.12 in (22.86 x 15.24 x 0.30 cm)
