Beschreibung:

POTTER, BEATRIX, illustrator ]. A Happy Pair. By Frederic E. Weatherly. Illustrated by H.B.P. [Helen Beatrix Potter]. London: Hildesheimer & Faulkner, [1890]. 6 chromolithographed illustrations by Potter. Small square 8vo, 120 x 102 mm. (4¾ x 4 in.), original chromolithographed covers illustrated by Potter, stitch bound with silk chord (tassels worn away), some soiling and pale staining to covers, rubbed along spine fold; large mostly pale stain on title and first few leaves (mostly affecting text, but slightly touching one image and heavier on a few plate margins). FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY POTTER. V & A 1765; see Laurie Deval, "The Bibliography of Beatrix Potter " In: The Book Collector , Winter 1966, pp. 454-459 (where the V & A copy is described as the only copy known); see Quinby, p. 115. RARE. In her journal for May 1890, Beatrix Potter gives an account of her efforts to have some of her Christmas card designs published, including a visit to Hildesheimer & Faulkner. Her first step was to send six of her designs (featuring Benjamin Bouncer) to Marcus Ward, who shocked her by sending them back by return post. "Following a suggestion from her brother, she sent some of her rabbit drawings to Hildesheimer & Faulkner, a greetings-card publisher, who to her amazement and delight sent her a checque for £6 by return, with a request for more." (Judy Taylor, The Artist and Her World , p. 17). These pictures comprise her first published work: both as a series of separate chromolithographed prints and also issued in book form, supplemented with verses by the prolific Victorian song-writer, Frederic E. Weatherly. The artist was identified by her initials, "H.B.P." See Journal (London, 1966), pp. 203-206.