1940 First Edmund Blampied Illustrated Edition - Peter Pan and Wendy

Author: J. M. Barrie. Illustrated by Edmund Blampied.
Title: Peter Pan and Wendy.
Publisher: New York, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1940. First Edmund Blampied Illustrated Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 10" x 7.5".
Pages: viii-215 pages.
Binding: Very good original publisher’s illustrated beige cloth binding, with Peter and Wendy flying among the stars stamped in black to the cover and spine (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown). Complete with the rare, very good original dust jacket, featuring a vivid red design with scattered white stars and a mounted color illustration on the front panel (Jacket shows light edge wear and some small chips - as shown), otherwise very well preserved under a protective removable mylar cover
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown). A well-preserved copy.
Illustrations: Profusely illustrated by Edmund Blampied, including twelve full-page colour plates and seventeen black-and-white line drawings. The illustrations capture both the whimsy and darker undertones of Barrie’s classic tale.

The book: This 1940 Scribner’s edition of Peter Pan and Wendy is part of the celebrated “Blampied Edition,” in which Edmund Blampied reinterprets for the first time, Barrie’s timeless story with his distinctive style. This first edition preserves the original text of Peter & Wendy (first published in 1911) and complements it with Blampied’s enchanting illustrations. Importantly, this book was published under the terms of J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan Bequest, meaning royalties supported the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children in London—a poignant connection that makes this edition historically and sentimentally significant.

The author: James Matthew Barrie (1860–1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright best known for creating Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn’t grow up. First appearing in a 1904 play and later in novel form, the story has become a cornerstone of children’s literature. Barrie’s themes of innocence, imagination, and the bittersweet nature of growing up continue to resonate deeply.

The illustrator: Edmund Blampied (1886–1966) was a renowned artist and illustrator from Jersey, celebrated for his fluid line work and expressive figures. His illustrations for Peter Pan and Wendy bring a fresh, lively interpretation to Barrie’s fantasy, balancing light-hearted playfulness with moments of tension and drama. Blampied’s ability to capture movement and emotion makes this edition especially collectible.