Beatrix Potter: Books and Works on Paper, including the Collection

PRESSRELEASE|FORIMMEDIATERELEASE
19May2016
Beatrix Potter: Books and Works on Paper,
including the Collection of John R. Cawood
To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the
author’s birth – 28 July 2016
The Story of Miss Moppet, first edition, in panoramic format, (est: £400-£600)
Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions will hold an auction dedicated to Beatrix Potter and in
celebration of the 150th Anniversary of her birth. The auction will take place on her
birthday, 28 July 2016. The John Cawood Collection of Beatrix Potter forms a large share
of the lots on offer and comprises nearly 100 pieces including First Editions and Works on
Paper amassed by the collector since 1972. John Cawood is a resident of The Lake District
and prominent member of the Beatrix Potter Society who developed a passion for Beatrix
Potter’s tales as a child. Estimates for the collection range from £250 to £35,000.
Consignments are currently being accepted for the sale with a closing date of 16th of June.
It was through a childhood friendship formed at his school tennis club with David
Steedman (who grew up to become a third generation antiquarian bookseller) that John
Cawood developed his passion for collecting which started by chance in 1972. John, who
had qualified as a solicitor, commented to Steedman that he had recently read a biography
of Beatrix Potter that he found fascinating. A few days later his friend, with a canny eye for
business, telephoned to say that he had a fine copy of Mrs Tiggy Winkle. From that
moment he was hooked and for the next 40 years set about trying to achieve ‘a complete
set of 1st editions of her ‘little books’. He always strived to buy the best condition of any title
and this sale presents an excellent opportunity for new collectors to acquire some of the
best examples of her work.
Headlining the sale is a first edition of Beatrix
Potter's iconic work, The Tale of Peter
Rabbit. This version is a first issue and one of
only 250 copies ever made. It has a colour
frontispiece and 41 full-page line drawings by
the author as well as the original grey-green
boards lettered and illustrated in black. This is
an exceptional example
of the true first
printing of one of the most important
children's books of the twentieth century and
was privately printed at the behest of the
author by Strangeways in December, 1901
(est: £25,000-35,000). Originally conceived
by Beatrix Potter as a picture letter and sent
to her former governess’ eldest son Noël in 1893, The Tale of Peter Rabbit was to become
one of the pre-eminent children’s books of all time, and firmly established Beatrix Potter as
a popular author and illustrator. This edition was produced largely due to the author’s
exasperation at the failure of various children’s book publishers to take on the work, and
immediately proved such a success amongst her friends, family and others (including Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle) that, within a week or two, she had requested a second impression be
produced. At the same time Frederick Warne & Co. had reconsidered their position on
publishing the work, and a deal was made with Beatrix Potter to produce the edition with
coloured plates throughout, maintaining the author’s preferred format in regard to size and
sticking with the three-colour process she had commissioned Hentschel to use for this
privately printed issue’s frontispiece.
Prior to Beatrix Potter achieving fame with The
Tale of Peter Rabbit she made her living as an
illustrator of children’s books and ephemera.
Included in the auction is a rare and charming
chromolithograph Christmas Card of Two Mice
in a Coconut.. Designed in England, it was
printed in Germany, c. 1890 by Hildesheimer &
Faulkner. Beatrix Potter's original design for this
Christmas card depicted a mouse in a nest rather
than a coconut.
Two original watercolour
designs for this work are in the V&A, the former
Two Mice in a Coconut, (est: £600-£800)
depicting the mouse inside the nest, and the latter depicting the nest viewed from the
outside, est: £600 - £800,
Two notable lots relate to the quintessential 'cat
and mouse tale' - The Story of Miss Moppet.
Highlighting
the
auction
is
an
original
watercolour design for the mouse autographed
by Potter and featuring instructions from her in
pencil indicating how it was to be reduced in
size
for
the
title-page
illustration.
The
watercolour, dating from c.1906, is tipped onto
card and window mounted, framed & glazed. It
is an excellent original illustration, initially used
in monochrome only for the panoramic edition
Watercolour design for the mouse in The Story of Miss Moppet,
[c.1906] (Est: £8,000-£12,000)
of The Story of Miss Moppet (1906), and
never reissued in colour for the 1916 or
subsequent standard format editions. est: £8,000 - £12,000. Very few original illustrations
are available on the open market. Also for sale is a first edition of The Story of Miss Moppet
in panoramic format, comprising 14 colour illustrations. This is one of only two panoramic
Peter Rabbit titles aimed at younger children and issued for Christmas (est: £400 - £600).
A first issue and first edition of The Tailor of Gloucester is one of just 500 copies ever
produced and was printed privately by Beatrix Potter in 1902 by Strangeways. The book
features 16 colour plates and is estimated at £3,000-4,000. Developed from one of the
author’s famous illustrated letters, this time gifted to Freda Moore, this work features
rhymes & verses that Beatrix Potter enjoyed woven into a tale told to her by Caroline
Hutton during a stay at Harescombe Grange near Stroud, Gloucestershire, for which the
author took sketches of Gloucester landmarks & streets, and even tore a button off her
own coat so she could watch a tailor in Chelsea at work. The Tailor of Gloucester was the
author’s favourite among all her works, writing of this edition “I find that children of the
right age - 12 - like it best; the smaller ones who could learn off the short sentences of
Peter find this one too long.”
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin, first edition with 27 colour plates and title vignette by the
author features the original floral patterned cloth and lettered in gilt, darkened and slightly
creased at spine, rubbed at corner-tips,. Published by Warne in 1903, this was one of two
titles to be bound for a deluxe edition in art fabric from Beatrix Potter’s grandfather’s
printworks at Manchester and carries an estimate of £700 - £900.
Beatrix Potter only every produced one Almanac and it is included in the auction estimated
at £300-400. Peter Rabbit’s Alm anac for 1929 is a first edition with 13 colour plates
(frontispiece and one for each month) and colour title vignette by the author and is a good
copy. A first edition in excellent condition of Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes, first or
second printing includes 15 colour plates and a plain title vignette by the author and is
complete with its original printed glassine dust-jacket. This book was originally planned at
the time Peter Rabbit was published, developing on Beatrix Potter’s interest in traditional
nursery rhymes combined with her enjoyment of the illustrations of Walter Crane and
Randolph Caldecott. However, Warne did not publish it until 1917 (est: £1,800 - £2,200).
A handwritten letter from Beatrix Heelis to Mrs [Celia N./Nurse] Edwards dated 23rd
February 1924, Sawrey, Ambleside, informing Nurse Edwards that "the committee has
confirmed your appointment" [as a Queen's Nurse for the Hawkshead and District Nursing
Association] and noting a desired engagement date is estimated at £800-1,200. The author
notes luggage arrangements before commenting on the departing nurse ("I should say she
always had a quick tongue, but there could not be a kinder hearted woman, I have always
liked and respected her, and a splendid surgical nurse. She gets very irritable when feeling
ill and tired. I would not write all this, only you are sure to hear plenty of grumbles...") and
notes "People are ready enough to make excuses for ex-service men, but when a woman
is neuraltrenic [sic] - she is simple "cross"..."
~Ends~
For further press information, images and interview opportunities please contact:
Freya Simms / Rosie Field
Golden Squared Consulting
10-11 Lower John Street
London W1F 9EB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7439 2822
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Website: www.goldensquared.com
-NOTESDreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions is the trading name of The Fine Art Auction Group, and
is a UK 'top' auctioneer of fine art and collectibles. It covers all aspects of fine art and
antiques, with market leading specialists in Traditional Furniture, Clocks and Paintings,
Contemporary Art and Design, Modern Prints, Books and Works on Paper, Fine Jewellery
and Objects of Vertu, Asian Art and Fine Wine.
Mallett Antiques, a subsidiary of The Fine Art Auction Group, is one of the oldest
established antique dealers in the world and celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2015. It
specialises in the finest pieces of furniture and works of art, including pictures, clocks and
other high quality objets d'art, primarily from the 18th century and Regency periods.
Images available upon request
Visit Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ website at
www.bloomsburyauctions.com
Follow Bloom sbury Auctions on: