POTTER, BEATRIX. A group of 11 first editions of the works of Beatrix Potter, as under, with an i

POTTER, BEATRIX. A group of 11 first editions of the works of Beatrix Potter, as under, with an interesting association; some were given to the children of Zorah Godden by Beatrix Potter's cousins H. Mary Hutton and Caroline Hutton of Harescombe Grange and some bear inscriptions to that effect or contain correspondence. Leslie Linder in 'A History of the Writings of Beatrix Potter' (Warne, 1971) refers to Beatrix Potter staying at Harescombe Grange and notes that "The Tale of Mr Tod" is dedicated to Caroline's son. 'The Roly-Poly Pudding' below contains, loosely inserted, an autograph letter (4-sides 12mo) from H. Mary Hutton to Zorah Godden dated Dec. 3rd 1908. "I am sending you for the children B. Potters 2 last books. Jemima Puddle-duck very likely you have, as it came out some weeks ago......but the other one has only been out about 10 days....I was stopping with B. Potter in the Autumn at her farm in the lake district which provided her with the chimney in "Roly-poly". Nearly all the indoor pictures in it are also taken from rooms in her farmhouse where she has a very nice hall, which she uses as a dining room, with about 8 oak doors in it furnished with brass handles. Very picturesque but somewhat draughty......" . 'The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck' contains, loosely inserted, an autograph correspondence card, Dec. 8th 1908, from H. Mary Hutton "All the views in "Jemima" are taken from B.P."s little domain at Sawrey, near Lake Windemere ...". The collection comprises: THE TALE OF SQUIRREL NUTKIN.1903. Lacking backstrip and 1 leaf, boards loose, inscription in ink on endpaper. THE TALE OF TWO BAD MICE. 1904. Lacking backstrip, loose, surface adhesion/damage to 7 pages . With note loosely inserted "Given by Mary Hutton (Miss Potter's cousin)". THE PIE AND THE PATTY PAN. 1905. Backstrip chipped and partly detached, some browning and foxing. Illustration of cat on upper cover partly rubbed away. Plain mottled endpapers Inscribed to Zorah Godden by H. Mary Hutton and dated Nov. 1905. THE STORY OF THE FIERCE BAD RABBIT. 1906. In wallet panoramic form; some creasing, tab cover worn. "London & New York" on back. THE STORY OF MISS MOPPET. 1906. In wallet panoramic form; some creasing, lacking tab & tab cover. "London & New York" on back. THE TALE OF TOM KITTEN.1907. Lower joint partly split, some rubbing to boards and cover illustration, some leaves loose. Surface damage due to adhesion of one leaf of text and facing plate. THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK. 1908. Backstrip chipped. Inscribed to Zorah Godden by Mary Hutton and dated Xmas 1908. With the correspondence card referred to above loosely inserted. THE ROLY-POLY PUDDING. 1908. Binding little rubbed, frontispiece detached. 'All rights reserved' at bottom of title. Inscribed in pencil "Zorah M G Godden from Caroline & Mary Hutton". With the autograph letter referred to above loosely inserted. THE TALE OF THE FLOPSY BUNNIES. 1909. (with Notice Board in illustration on p.14). A very slight chip to headband else a very good copy. GINGER & PICKLES. 1909. Lacking backstrip, boards detached, stitching slack, small piece chipped from inner blank margin of one text leaf. THE TALE OF MR TOD. 1912. Spine browned else very good.