1904 Rare Early Printing- The Tale of Peter Rabbit illustrated by Beatrix Potter

Author: Beatrix Potter.
Title: The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Publisher: London and New York, Frederick Warne and Co., no date (1904 - First edition, seventh or eighth printing according to the endpaper. The right-hand endpaper was introduced for The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. The cat is now brown, and the guinea pig's figure has been added in place of the owl; on the left-hand endpaper, the previous design is reversed, with the white cat in the lower left. Quinby 2d. 
Language: Text in English.
Size: 5.4 x 4.5 inches.
Pages: 85 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original green paper-covered boards with white lettering to the front board and spine and mounted color illustration of Peter Rabbit on the front cover. Hinges sound. Moderate rubbing and wear to the extremities, as shown. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content. Bright, clean, and complete. Contemporary Christmas gift inscription dated 1905 on the front endpaper. Occasional light age toning and minor handling wear. A well-preserved example of this early edition.
Illustrations: Complete with the color frontispiece and Beatrix Potter's charming color illustrations throughout the text.

Estimate: (USD $1200–1,500).

The book: An attractive early 1904 edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, one of the most beloved children's books ever published. First issued in 1902, Beatrix Potter's tale of the mischievous young rabbit who ventures into Mr. McGregor's garden rapidly became a publishing phenomenon and laid the foundation for one of the most successful series in children's literature.

This example retains its desirable early format, complete with the pictorial endpapers featuring Potter's delightful animal characters and a contemporary Christmas 1905 gift inscription, providing a charming glimpse into the book's early history. More than a century after publication, The Tale of Peter Rabbit remains one of the most recognizable and influential picture books ever created, treasured by generations of readers and collectors alike.

The author and illustrator: Helen Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) was an English author, illustrator, naturalist, and conservationist whose animal stories transformed children's literature. Combining carefully observed natural history with gentle storytelling, Potter created a series of enduring classics including The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, The Tailor of Gloucester, and many others.

Her illustrations, drawn from years of studying animals and plants, brought an unusual realism and warmth to children's books. Beyond her literary achievements, Potter became an important conservationist, preserving large areas of the English Lake District that today form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.