Books and Manuscripts

London: Hodder & Stoughton Limited, (1912). "New Edition" (reprint of the 1906 edition, in a larger format, and with new illustrations and color plates distributed throughout the text). 4to. (viii), (126) pp., (1) pp. Illustrated with color frontispiece and 49 color plates, all mounted and all with captioned tissue guards, plus many black and white in-text illustrations. Publisher's green cloth, elaborately stamped in gilt; all edges trimmed; dust-jacket; in quarter tan goatskin solander box; separations at gutter in pp. 32-33, 40-41, 64-65, 80-81, 88-89, 120-121; one-inch tear in bottom edge of title-page; black and white plate between pp. 62-63 starting. Signed by sculptor of Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, George Frampton (1860-1928) on front paste-down; author J.M. Barrie (1860-1937) on verso of front free endpaper; inscribed and signed by Princess Beatrice "of Great Britain & Ireland" (1857-1944) and Princess Marie Louise (1872-1956) on same; Arthur Rackham has signed his name under a large original illustration of his verso on recto of frontispiece; signed by Nadejda "Nada" Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven (1896-1963) on same. Most signatures dated 1927. Latimore & Haskell, p. 40; Riall, p. 114

A fantastic association copy and with an original Rackham illustration. A January 4, 1927 issue of the Westminster Gazette explains the book's origins as a prize offered for "the best costumes from 'Peter Pan' and 'Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens'" at an annual London charity "Peter Pan" party. "There were not many 'Peter Pans.' Boys preferred pirates, most of them fierce-looking, with daggers protruding from their belts. Among the prizes were books of the play by Sir J. M. Barrie, autographed by Princess Beatrice, Princess Marie Louise, Lady Milford Haven, Sir James Barrie, Sir George Frampton, and Mr. Arthur Rackham."