J.M. Barrie / Arthur Rackham - The Peter Pan Portfolio (limited edition of 300 copies) - 1914

"The Peter Pan Portfolio" illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Brentano's, NY - 1914, limited edition of 300 copies, this being no 38 - 80cmx50cm, Folio size - 12 plates by Rackham (largest plates ever produced) - condition: good, original boards, some wear and soiling to boards, with ribbons, internally clean, complete, bookplate to front endpaper. One of the most unique Rackham items to come up for auction at Catawiki

The plates in this volume are also the largest Rackham plates ever produced


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.