Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.

BARRIE, J.M. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

$18,000.00

Item Number: 142267

London: Hodder & Stoughton Limited, n.d.

New edition of Rackham’s highly-sought-after masterpiece, which established his reputation as one of England’s premier illustrators. Quarto, original publisher’s green cloth elaborately decorated in gilt, illustrated by Arthur Rackham with 50 mounted color plates complete with captioned tissue guards including frontispiece. Association copy, signed by author J.M. Barrie on the verso of the front free endpaper, signed by Arthur Rackham on the recto of the frontispiece with an original drawing as well as Nadejda “Nada” Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, signed by the sculptor of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens, George Frampton on front pastedown, and signed by Princess Beatrice and Princess Marie Louise on the verso of the front free endpaper, “Beatrice Princess of Great Britain & Ireland January 1927” and “Marie Louise Jan. 1927.” A January 4, 1927 issue of the Westminster Gazette explains the book’s origin 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.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Small closed tear to the foot of the title page. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A splendid association copy of Rackham’s masterpiece.

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).