One of 500 numbered copies

Barrie, J.M. & Rackham, Arthur (Illus.) ~ Peter Pan Portfolio. From ‘Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens’.

Hodder and Stoughton, London : 1912

The sole UK printing published by Hodder and Stoughton, London in 1912. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Elephant folio. Number '486' of 500 numbered copies, signed by the Publishers and Engravers/Printers on the limitation page, out of a total edition of 600 copies. Original half vellum over light sage green cloth boards. The boards are very lightly mottled in places. The front cover is lettered in gilt with the original silk ties present. Engraved title-page and limitation statement with twelve large proof size colour plates mounted in thick mounts with titled printed tissue guards. All the plates are clean, in Fine condition with some unobtrusive linen reinforcement bands to some of the mounts at the hinge. All the printed tissue guards are present with some very light creasing to some of the guards. The rear blank end-paper has an irregular fore-edge. Housed in the publisher's original printed box, missing one bottom panel flap and a few small chips to the side flaps, some rubbing and markings, especially to the top lid and some tape reinforcement to the inner flaps in places. Of the 600 copies of this portfolio (which preceded the American portfolio by two years), one hundred were bound in full vellum and five hundred in half vellum. This portfolio and the American edition contain the largest Rackham plates ever printed. Published to capitalise on the popularity of the stage production Peter and Wendy, it is the only suite of Rackham's plates to be issued in an oversize portfolio format, with 12 of the artist's personal favourites from Rackham's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens reproduced at their original size. Of Rackham's designs Barrie wrote, 'I like best of all the Serpentine with the fairies, and the Peter in his night-gown sitting in the tree. Next I would [sic] the flying Peters, the fairies going to the ball (as in the 'tiff' and the fairy on cobweb) the fairies sewing the leaves with their sense of fun (the gayest thing this) and your treatment of snow' (Ray 329). Barrie's comments may have influenced Rackham's selection, as this portfolio includes all the images he mentioned (Latimore & Haskell pp. 39-40; Riall p. 113). A scarce survivor with many copies over time having been broken up.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++