Lot Details
Lot 74
POTTER, BEATRIX Two autograph letters signed and an inscribed book to Barbara Ruxton.
The letters: the first dated 6 November 1913 and addressed from 2 Bolton Gardens, two pages on the recto and verso of one sheet, signed "Peter Rabbit/Nobody remembers to call me Mrs. Heelis"; The second dated 31 December 1913 and addressed from Hill Top Farm, Sawrey, 4 pages on the recto and verso of one folded sheet, signed Beatrix Heelis. Both letters 7 x 4 1/2 inches (18 x 11 cm); housed together in a modern quarter morocco clamshell case. Both with usual folds and a few spots, the first with some possible tissue strengthening at ends of folds; The Book: The Tale of Pigling Bland. London: Warne, 1913. First edition, a presentation copy, the half-titled inscribed "For Barbara Ruxton with love from Beatrix Heelis." Original maroon boards with mounted illustration, color printed endpapers, housed in a matching morocco backed clamshell case. 5 3/8 x 4 inches (13.7 x 10 cm); [94 pp.], 15 color plates, in text illustrations. Front hinge cracking, stray ink mark to half-title, fine overall.
All Exhibited: Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit: A Centenary Celebration from the Collection of Grolier Club Members, The Grolier Club, New York, 14 November 2001-11 January 2002
Two scarce letters from Beatrix Potter from the months following her marriage to William Heelis in October 1913. The letters are written to Barbara Ruxton who had visited the Lake District, befriended Potter, and arranged for her young cousins to meet the author. Ruxton also provided advice to Potter on the artwork in The Tale of Pigling Bland and her inscribed copy of this title is present in this lot. In the first letter Potter references the book and her reason for visiting London: "I am sending you the new book now ... I had to come up to see my parents who are very old so I only had a fortnight's honeymoon." This letter is signed "Peter Rabbit" as she notes that "Nobody remembers to call me Mrs. Heelis." In the longer letter, signed as "Beatrix Heelis", Potter reports on the progress of her home and related personal matters. Potter's correspondence with Ruxton is mentioned in Judy Taylor's Letters to Children from Beatrix Potter.
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C The Mary K. Young Collection
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