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THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER

by Beatrix Potter

Illustrated by Beatrix Potter

Published by Strangeways. 1st. 1902

Nearly fine condition. This is the privately printed edition of the Tailor of Gloucester, of which only 500 copies were published. The book is in small format with pink paperboards with a line drawing of three mice sewing on the front cover. The book has a colour frontispiece and 15 colour plates. Beatrix Potter began to write her picture letters for children at the age of 26 and these were to become the basis for her books. The story of the Tailor of Gloucester was first told in a letter from Beatrix to Freda Moore, daughter of her former governess, Annie Carter. Having had her story of Peter Rabbit initially rejected by at least six publishers before Warnes agreed to publish it, Beatrix decided that she would not show her new little book to Warnes. She thought that they would either not want to publish a second book so soon, or that they may want to alter it or omit the nursery rhymes, or otherwise disapprove of what she now felt was "her mouse book". So she returned to Strangeways, the original printers and engravers of Peter Rabbit, and paid herself for a coloured private edition of 500 copies. The books differs considerably from the edition later published Warnes. It is longer, the pictures are not all the same and it contains many more jingles and nursery rhymes, sung by the rats and mice of Gloucester on Christmas Eve. Of all her books The Tailor of Gloucester remained Beatrix Potter's own favourite.

Very slightly browning to covers in places. Top corner very slightly worn. Very light foxing to endpapers. Contents fine. A superb copy of this rare book. Housed in custom-made drop-back box.

Stock no. 594582

Sorry this book has been sold (14/10/2019)
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