1910 Rare Early Edition - The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter

Author: Beatrix Potter. Illustrated by Beatrix Potter.
Title: The Tailor of Gloucester.
Publisher: Frederick Warne and Co., London and New York. Publication not stated (c.1910).
Language: Text in English.
Size: Approximately 5.5 x 4.5 inches.
Pages: 85 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original publisher’s binding in green-grey paper-covered boards with white stamped titles to the front panel and spine. Mild rubbing to extremities and light wear at the corners; (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective, removable mylar cover. A solid, clean, and well-preserved example of this early Warne issue.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown). Very good condition. Pages are clean, bright, and crisp, with minimal evidence of handling. The charming Potter-illustrated endpapers featuring characters from the Peter Rabbit universe are intact and vibrant. The front free endpaper bears the name of a previous owner, “Kathleen” - as shown. 
Illustrations: llustrated throughout with numerous full-page color plates by Beatrix Potter, each printed on the recto with facing text. The plates show excellent clarity and color, consistent with early Frederick Warne printings. Complete.

Estimate: (USD 250 – 300).

The book: First published commercially by Frederick Warne in 1903, The Tailor of Gloucester holds a special place among Beatrix Potter’s works. The story — inspired by a real tailor in Gloucester — blends gentle humor, winter atmosphere, and the quiet determination of its humble protagonist. Simpkin the cat, the bustling mice, and the embroidered waistcoat they complete in secret make this one of Potter’s most expressive, character-rich narratives. This 1910 early edition preserves the hallmark triangular onlaid illustration, the original green-grey binding variant, and the luminous color plates that elevate Potter’s storytelling. A well-kept example of one of her most treasured works.

The author: Beatrix Potter (1866–1943) reshaped children’s literature with her blend of naturalist precision, narrative warmth, and instantly recognizable watercolors. Her characters — Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and many more — became foundational figures in 20th-century children’s illustration. The Tailor of Gloucester was among the stories she personally valued most.