1911 Rare Peter Pan First Edition - Peter and Wendy by James Matthew Barrie
Author: J.M. Barrie. Illustrated by F.D. Bedford.
Title: Peter and Wendy.
Publisher: New York, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1911. First American Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8 "X 6 ".
Pages: 267 pages.
Binding: Attractive and very good original olive green cloth binding with elaborate gilt pictorial design to the front cover featuring Wendy, Peter, and woodland foliage; spine gilt somewhat dulled, with uniform fading and minor rubbing to extremities (hinges fine, overall slightly worn and scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, inner hinges are worn but still tight, preserving structural integrity - as shown, modern ex libris of Carolyn Garlock (Garlock Hall, Vermont) to front pastedown - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with 12 full-page black-and-white illustrations by F.D. Bedford, including frontispiece with tissue guard. The images are richly detailed and finely rendered, capturing the magic and tension of Neverland.
Estimation : (USD 900 - USD 1250)
The book: A desirable first American edition of Peter and Wendy, J.M. Barrie's classic 1911 novel that immortalized Peter Pan, the boy who wouldn't grow up. This edition, published the same year as the British first, retains the original illustrations by F.D. Bedford, whose delicate linework offers a captivating visual narrative alongside Barrie’s enchanting prose. This copy, with its decorative gilt cover and notable provenance, would make a wonderful addition to any collection of children’s literature, Edwardian illustration, or book arts.
The author: J.M. Barrie (1860–1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright best known for creating Peter Pan, the iconic figure of childhood freedom and fantasy. First introduced in The Little White Bird and later adapted for stage, Peter Pan became a cultural symbol of eternal youth and the tension between innocence and experience. Barrie’s deep sensitivity to the inner world of children and his whimsical imagination have ensured his place as a cornerstone of children’s literature.
The illustrator: Francis Donkin Bedford (1864–1954) was a British artist celebrated for his refined and elegant illustrations. His collaboration with J.M. Barrie on Peter and Wendy is perhaps his most famous work, combining finely etched linework with a lyrical sensibility that perfectly complements the dreamlike atmosphere of Barrie’s tale. Bedford’s illustrations remain some of the most beloved visual interpretations of Peter Pan.