The Fairy Caravan.

Unique inscription by the author. This privately printed edtion of only 100 copies, is numbered by Beatrix Potter in her own hand; 'This copy is no 7.' in pencil to upper paste-down and inscribed by her on the opposite free endpaper; 'To Jack and Wynne from H.B.H. Oct 26th 1929'. also in pencil. Jack Heelis was her nephew by marriage to William Heelis.

This title was first published by David McKay Company in Philadelphia in October 1929 therefore contemporaneous with this' limited edition' issued in 100 copies by Beatrix Potter in order to protect the U.K. copyright. The first section of this book was printed by Middleton's of Ambleside, with the remaining plates taken from the David Mckay edition. It was not published for general sale in the U.K. until July 1952, i.e., after Beatrix Potter's death. The reason why the U.K. edition was withheld was because Beatrix Potter felt the book to be too personal, containing as it is does, a number of references to Sawrey, the surrounding district and with what are thought to be some thinly veiled references to people whom she knew.

Limited edition, privately printed by the author, numbered (no. 7) and personally inscribed by her in pencil; 8vo (240 x 180 mm); frontispiece illustration and five further colour plates, numerous monochrome illustrations within the text, all by the author, off-setting to front free endpaper, some relevantly minor spotting, mostly to preliminary text leave but in the main clean and bright; original quarter dark green cloth over lighter green paper-covered boards, rubbed and bumped at extremities, slightly soiling but otherwise very good and totally unrestored.

Bibliography: Linder, p. 431; Quinby 29.