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The Tale of Peter Rabbit
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The Tale of Peter Rabbit Paperback - 2011

by Beatrix Potter


About this book

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. The story follows Peter Rabbit, a mischievous and disobedient young rabbit, as he ventures into the garden of farmer Mr. McGregor. The tale was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, son of Potter's former governess, in 1893. It was revised and privately printed by Potter in 1901 after several publishers' rejections but was printed in a trade edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902. 

From the publisher

The Tale of Peter Rabbit, illustrated, by Beatrix Potter. This edition is an unabridged, paperback reprinting of Potter's famed children's story book, authored and illustrated by herself. The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor.

First Edition Identification

Potter's book was initially rejected by publishers, who were looking for color illustrations. Resisting that idea, Potter paid for 250 copies to be printed at her own expense, which she distributed to family and friends in 1901 and shortly needed to print another 200 copies. 

Frederick Warne & Co reached out to the author (although they were one of the initial rejectors) asking if she would cut some illustrations and add colors - and eventually, a contract was agreed upon. The first 8,000 copies of the trade edition sold out before printing, and by the end of 1902 28,000 copies were in print; a 
year after the first commercial publication there were 56,470 copies in print.

Of the first printing, first edition run there were 2,000 deluxe editions bound in either green or yellow cloth. The rest were bound in brown board.  

Details

  • Title The Tale of Peter Rabbit
  • Author Beatrix Potter
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 36
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Date 2011-12
  • ISBN 9781468081374 / 1468081373
  • Weight 0.14 lbs (0.06 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.07 in (22.91 x 15.19 x 0.18 cm)
  • Reading level 810
  • Dewey Decimal Code 823.912

About the author

Helen Beatrix Potter (28 July 1866 - 22 December 1943) was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children's books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.