Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.

BARRIE, J. M. Drawings by Arthur Rackham.

Item Number: 123064

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1906.

First separate and signed limited edition of Rackham’s highly-sought-after masterpiece, which established his reputation as one of England’s premier illustrators. Quarto, bound in full morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe with an elaborate morocco inlay set into the front panel captioned “The lady with the balloons, who sits just outside”, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, , gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, watered silk doublures and endleaves. One of 500 numbered copies signed by Arthur Rackham, this is number 376. With 50 mounted color illustrations by Arthur Rackham. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Barrie's beloved character, Peter Pan's namesake "came from Peter Llewelyn Davies, who when still a baby became the subject of stories told by Barrie to [Peter's older brothers]. According to these stories Peter, like all babies, had once been a bird and could still fly out of his nursery window and back to Kensington Gardens, because his mother had forgotten to weigh him at birth. From these stories came the 'Peter Pan' chapters in The Little White Bird [published 1902], afterwards re-issued with Arthur Rackham illustrations as Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" (Carpenter, 177). "The 50 color plates were unanimously praised by all who saw them. One critic wrote: 'Mr. Rackham seems to have dropped out of some cloud in Mr. Barrie's fairyland, sent by special providence to make pictures in tune with his whimsical genius" (Dalby, 76-77). The book established Rackham's reputation and remains "his acknowledged masterpiece" (Ray, 204).