Inscribed and dated by the author. The inscription from Beatrix Potter reads; 'Beatrix Potter, Castle Cottage, Sawrey, Nov 22. 40'; the gift inscription from Eileen O'Brien is to; 'Cynthia Mary Clark on her first birthday', and her note explains how Ms. O'Brien had been enjoying an evening with Mrs. Heelis (the married name of Beatrix Potter), during which the author had been kind enough to autograph the book and that she had selected Jemima Puddle-Duck for its little pictures of the district and of most interest to the Clark family, the beehive shelf in the old garden wall.

Eileen O'Brien was born at Kendal and helped to pioneer health education in Easter Europe after the First World War, living in various parts of Europe and Canada until her return to England in 1939. She continued agency work from he home at Ambleside until her retirement in 1962. She died in 1973.

Later edition, inscribed and dated by the author on half-title; 16mo (); colour plates, plain title vignette and colour pictorial endpapers by the author, gift inscription from Eileen O'Brien on front free endpaper, together with an autograph card from her in original envelope; publishers green boards with inset colour illustration, lettered in white, original glassine protective wrapper (partial tear to rear panel, otherwise a near-fine copy; together with a contemporary Frederick Warne advertising leaflet of one sheet folded in half, making 4 pp adverts for other Potter titles and related items, loosely inserted.