Beatrix Potter 'The Tale Of The Faithful Dove' Warne 1955, First Edition

'The Tale of the Faithful Dove'

The Tale of The Faithful Dove by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943). Rare first edition published by Warne, 1955.

Original green cloth, front cover lettered in gilt with a gilt single rule border, spine also lettered in gilt. In original cream-coloured dust jacket with printed dark green lettering.

Background: This is the first edition of a story originally penned by Beatrix Potter in 1907 for the children of her publishers, Frederick Warne &Co, and rediscovered by Fruing Warne in 1918. The work was never published until this un-illustrated posthumous edition in 1955. Strictly limited to 100 numbered copies, plus a few spares, the edition was never intended for public sale (instead as gifts for respected clients and associates of the firm), and they were ultimately given to the Warne family. It is thought that only a few copies were distributed before the rest were stored away, concealed for decades.

This book, number 16, is in excellent condition having been stored since its publication in 1955. Contents clean and bright. Some bowing. Pages tight. Typical browning to free endpapers and minor dust-soiling to fore-edges and joints. Minimal creasing to dust jacket and page corners. Please note that illustrations 1 and 2 are generic stock images.

Provenance: Owned by the Warne family.

Bibliography: Linder, A history of the Writings of Beatrix Potter; pp.1236-1238 &1715, and Taylor, Whalley, Hobbs, Battrick, The Artist and Her World; p.168.

An incredibly rare opportunity to acquire an all but pristine first edition release by one of the world’s most illustrious authors.