POTTER, Beatrix (author and illustrator). The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck. London Frederick Warne & Co. 1908

8vo. Original green boards with onlaid pictorial label to upper cover, lettering in which to spine and upper board; [vii], 8-84 + [ii] on coated paper with integral blanks, as issued; with frontispiece and 26 additional coloured plates after gentle watercolours; a good copy with some overall rubbing and dusting, one small grey 4mm spot to cover plate, small chip to top of spine with two short nicks to spine head (5mm and 4mm), unobtrusive evidence of earlier adhesion to one gutter (18mm) not affecting the image, and a contemporary gift inscription, dated 1909 (“Dearest Boy from Mother”) to front free endpaper; scarce in first printing.

First edition, first printing. One of the hardest titles in the series, probably in view of its success with the young, copies are usually read to destruction.