A hard to find The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter collectible 2 book plus a letter box set. This set is number 829 from the numbered limited edition of 1175, dating from 1993 and commemorating the centenary of the writing of the original Peter Rabbit picture letter in 1893. 

This boxed set contains facsimiles of the three stages in the publication of that classic book: The picture letter Beatrix Potter wrote to Noel Moore in 1893, her own privately-printed volume of 1901 (first printing), the original deluxe edition published by Frederick Warne in 1902 (olive binding), and a protective tissue with a gilt-stamped 100 Peter Rabbit 1893-1993 F. Warne & Co. logo. 

The facsimile of the picture letter is two sheets, about 8 x 9.5" (20.5 x 24cm), reprinting Potter's charming handwritten letter to Noel with about 17 sketches interspersed throughout the text, printed in brown ink on both sides of each sheet, and folded twice. Inserted into a small white envelope printed with Potter's handwritten addressing to Master Noel Moore, again printed in brown ink.

The facsimile of the privately-printed first edition, about 5.5 x 4" (14 x 10.5cm), is bound in grey paper-covered boards (the paper not turned-in) with black lettering and a vignette to the upper board, spine flat and blank. Plain white endpapers. All edges trimmed. Illustrated with a color frontispiece and 41 black and white illustrations, each facing a page of text. Not paginated, about 86pp. 

The facsimile of the deluxe first Warne edition, about 5.75" x 4.25" (14.5 x 10.5cm), is bound in olive cloth with a color pictorial pastedown surrounded by a double brown rule border, brown lettering and brown publisher's logo to upper board, and with brown lettering and two small brown vignettes to spine. Grey green and white leaf-patterned endpapers. All edges gilt. Illustrated with 31 color plates (including the frontispiece), each facing a page of text (and each with a blank reverse), and a title page vignette printed in black. 98pp. 

Housed in a flat-spine box is covered in green cloth over boards with a gilt 100 logo and a single gilt outer rule to upper cover, gilt lettering and a gilt vignette to spine, and a simple brass clasp at the opening. The green paper-covered interior has a pastedown limitation notice in the left compartment and the two books fit in the left compartment, held in with a green ribbon and covered with the protective sheet. This edition was printed and bound by William Clowes Limited, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. 1993.

The set is in excellent condition, it looks unread with just a few small light marks on the book label. This set originally had a 4-page explanatory booklet and that booklet is missing. The cloth covered case has some very minor wear.

Over the next few weeks, I will be selling a single-owner Beatrix Potter collection that includes some extremely rare pieces, so please keep an eye on my listings. I discount combined shipping. Please see the photos for details. Thank you for looking!

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