London: Frederick Warne and Co., 1911. First edition. A Fine copy in Near Fine dust jacket. Twelvemo (5 7/16 x 4 1/8 inches; 139 x 105 mm.). 84, [1], [1, blank] pp. Color frontispiece and twenty-six color plates (included in pagination). Black and white vignette on title-page. Original dark green boards ruled and lettered in white on front cover and lettered in white spine. Cover pictorial label (measuring 2 5/8 x 2 1/4 inches; 67 x 57 mm.) on front cover within a blind arch-shaped panel outlined in blind. Color pictorial endpapers (Quinby Plate X). In the original glazed paper glassine dust jacket printed in black with the price “1/- NET” at foot of spine, with vertical lines at the top and bottom of the spine indicating where the fold should come for the front panel, with an advertisement for “The Peter Rabbit Books” on the rear panel listing The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes under “New Book for 1911,” an advertisement on the front flap: “Children Will Revel In The Story of The Roly=Poly Pudding…The Pie & The Patty=Pan…Ginger and Pickles,” and an advertisement on the rear flap: “A Novel and Charming Pocket Series by Beatrix Potter…The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit…The Story of Miss Moppet.” A remarkable and complete jacket, with only a tiny bit of chipping at the top and bottom of the spine and a closed tear at the bottom of the spine. Housed in a quarter dark blue morocco clamshell case with felt lining.

Accused of stealing nuts, the squirrel Timmy Tiptoes is imprisoned in a tree where befriends Chippy Hackee the chipmunk; hijinks ensue revealing contrasting species, personalities, and marriages along the way. The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes was one of Potter’s least commercially successful projects, often credited to her lack of first-hand observations of North American critters and mounting family pressures. "Beatrix Potter, writer of some of the most beloved children's books of all time, was a woman of immense talent, indefatigable spirit, and a generous heart...Although she grew up in London, she was deeply influenced by long family holidays in the countryside, first in Scotland and later in the English lake district. As was the custom in families of her class, she was educated at home by governesses. An eager student of languages and literature, she grew up loving classic folk and fairy tales...Her talent for drawing and painting was discovered early and encouraged" (Beatrix Potter Society). Her career began with the release of the now-beloved Tale of Peter Rabbit; and her subsequent works expanded into a magical world of anthropomorphic animals such as Tom Kitten, Squirrel Nutkin, and Benjamin Bunny.

Linder, p. 429. Quinby 20. V & A 1664. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. (Item #6356)