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. Square 12mo, 120 x 102 mm. (4¾ x 4 in.), original chromolithographed covers illustrated by Potter, stitch bound with tied rose silk cord (with tassels), minor soiling to covers, punched holes a little pulled from cords, slight splitting along folds near spine ends; cloth folding chemise and folding case. FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY POTTER. V & A 1765; see Laurie Duval, "The Bibliography of Beatrix Potter In: The Book Collector, pp. 454-459 (where the V & A copy is described as the only copy known); not in Quinby. A fine copy of this very rare item (about 6 copies of this title survive in both public and private collections). In a May 1890 entry in her Journal, 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. The company then made cards from some of her drawings, and others they used as illustrations to a set verses by Frederic E. Weatherly in a booklet called A Happy Pair . At 24 Beatrix had begun her professional career." (Judy Taylor in The Artist and Her World , p.17). See Journal (London, 1966), p. 203-206.