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Books
First and early editions of some of the storybooks. Notably, this includes a copy of the first privately printed edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit (December 1901), first editions of Peter Rabbit’s Painting Book (1911) and Peter Rabbit’s Almanac (1929), and a first edition copy of The Fairy Caravan (1929) inscribed by Beatrix Potter with notes on the animals who appear as characters in the book.
Drawings
Illustrations
The National Trust holds the original illustrations for twenty of the twenty-three little storybooks, in total more than 700 watercolours and ink drawings.
The exceptions, which are in other collections, are the illustrations for The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne Archive), The Tailor of Gloucester (Tate Gallery), and The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies (British Museum).
In addition, the National Trust Beatrix Potter Collection includes:
The black and white line illustrations for Potter’s privately printed edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit; the watercolour illustrations (but not the line illustrations) for The Fairy Caravan; illustrations for Peter Rabbit’s Almanac for 1929, Peter Rabbit’s Painting Book, Tom Kitten’s Painting Book and Jemima Puddle-Duck’s Painting Book; and a few preliminary and alternative drawings for some of the published illustrations.
Other drawings
More than 100 drawings in pencil, ink or watercolour. This includes landscape sketches, buildings and animal studies, and a few natural history drawings.
In addition there are eight sketchbooks, mostly containing landscapes and animal sketches, many of which were executed while Beatrix Potter was on holiday in the Lake District, Wales, around Sidmouth (Devon) or Rye (Sussex).
Manuscripts
Letters
The letters in the collection fall broadly into three categories:
Literary letters, including Beatrix Potter’s own copies of some of the story letters she wrote to various children of her acquaintance, and a few letters from the publishers Frederick Warne and Co regarding the books; family letters; and letters relating to Beatrix Potter’s farming activities, including her letters to Joseph Moscrop 1926-1943 (her shepherd at Troutbeck Park Farm) and letters relating to her work for the National Trust in managing Trust land in the Lake District.
Literary manuscripts
Manuscripts of many of the stories, often written in cheaply bought exercise books, and many with sketched illustrations. This includes a manuscript of the privately printed edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit with black and white line illustrations.
In addition, there are manuscripts of short stories and articles on themes of country life, manuscripts of unpublished stories, and manuscripts of Beatrix Potter’s code-written journal of the period 1881-1897.
Other manuscripts
Miscellaneous manuscript notes and documents.
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Objects
A small number of assorted objects, including a paint box belonging to Beatrix Potter’s mother, Helen Leech, and possibly used by Beatrix herself; and a set of six silk table mats hand-painted by Beatrix Potter with illustrations from The Tale of Benjamin Bunny.
The furniture and furnishings of Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s farmhouse bequeathed to The National Trust, are listed separately from the Beatrix Potter Collection.
Photographs
Photographs mostly taken by Beatrix Potter’s father, Rupert Potter, but also including some by Beatrix Potter. The subject matter includes Lake District and Scottish landscapes, Potter family and acquaintances, Hill Top house and garden, and photographs of Beatrix Potter herself.
Printed matter
This category includes greetings cards designed by Beatrix Potter (some of her earliest published work), as well as printer’s proofs, advertising leaflets and newspaper and magazine cuttings.
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