The Antique Peter Pan Guide - An Antique Books Guide

Peter Pan is one of the most renowned children's story, telling the tale of a boy who never grows up and spends his time exploring the island of Neverland with his band of Lost Boys. It is also one of the most collectable antique children's books, having spawned many different editions, illustrated by some of the finest illustrators around, from Mabel Lucie Attwell to Arthur Rackham.

Below is a collection of the very finest.

1. Arthur Rackham - First Edition 1906

Value - £250 plus for the 1906 first edition and as low as £100 for a worse condition 1907 or 1908 edition

Positive - A luxurious, high quality edition that showcased some of Rackham's finest work

Negative - All plates except for the frontispiece were printed on grey card at the back of the book so don't really flow with the reading experience

This is the edition to own if you are seeking a truly iconic edition. Being the first edition illustrated by renowned Golden Age illustrator Arthur Rackham is impressive enough but with fifty plates of illustrations and a remarkable presentation quality, this lovely book is a perfect example of why children's books are so collected. 

 A vellum deluxe edition was also published in this form, for those with an extensive budget.

2. Arthur Rackham 'Best' Edition 1912
Value - From £300 for a top quality edition to £100 for a poor quality edition                                                                Positive- Features all the original plates interspersed throughout unlike the first Rackham edition for a better reading experience and covers are more decorative                  Negative - Front/ endpapers do not feature the iconic map plus not classed as 'the original edition'.                                                                                                                                       This lovely 'new' edition is actually larger and preferred by some collectors over the first edition. With the same plates and presentation values but only one year of publication, this version features the illustrations spread throughout the book for a better reading experience.                                                 A slightly rarer edition which again is available in a deluxe edition for the discerning collector

Arthur Rackham c1912 edition
Value - Up to £200 in some cases but usually between £50 and £100 condition dependent

Positive - A more compact edition that still features 24 different Rackham plates and the map front/ endpapers

Negative - Later and smaller than the original with less than half the plates

Here is a slightly cheaper edition, usually placed at circa 1912. With a high-quality presentation but on a slightly smaller scale, this lovely edition is a tad more affordable. With only half the original illustrations, this is a more compact Rackham edition and can be obtained with red covers in smaller form still.

F.D Bedford First Edition - c1911

Value - From £100 for a later impression and up to £250 for a first impression

Positive- Beautiful gilt covers look great on a bookshelf plus illustrations are more intricate and less mainstream than Rackham's.
Negative - Smaller than Rackham's editions and with less illustrations  
                                                                                        Telling the story of Peter Pan when he meets Wendy, this edition is nearly as collectable as Rackhams. Known for the beautiful F.D Bedford plates which are monochrome and feature immense detail and charm, this edition is beautiful from cover to cover. The first edition features no date and a black/ white frontispiece whilst later impressions (as far as fourth) display the publishing date and can feature a colour frontispiece.

F.D Bedford Colour Frontis edition c1920
Value - Between £60 and £120 although obscure so few sales to base figures upon                                                                 Positive - Simpler in design and comes with the incredibly rare colour frontispiece illustration                                           Negatives - Less ornate and attractive than the first edition  

This rare edition is very obscure and is perhaps rarer than the F.D Bedford first edition. Despite this it is considerably less valuable and less sought after. I consider this one a hidden gem however, for the covers may appear simple and plain compared to the first edition but the inside more than makes up for it. Featuring all the same illustrations as the original, this edition also features the incredibly rare colour plate frontispiece printed on grey card and considerably valuable. 

Alice B Woodward & Daniel O'Connor 1907 Deluxe 

Value - c£400                                                             Positive - Very rare being limited to just 250 copies. Also one of the earliest early illustrated editions.               Negatives -This edition isn't strictly Peter Pan and, whilst the illustrations are beautiful they hardly push boundaries. Also virtually impossible to buy.

This extremely rare edition was limited and numbered to just 250 copies, making it perhaps the rarest Peter Pan listed in this post. The Deluxe edition predates the later editions by quite some time, making it very collectable. The charming and traditional illustrations match the narrative beautifully.   

Of all the editions the Rackham first is most sought after but many admire the F.D Bedford editions for their understated beauty and ornate patterning.

Whether you prefer Rackham or Bedford, or maybe the Mable Lucie Attwell edition, one thing is certain: this is one of the best illustrated children's books and a real key book for collectors, fans of literature and illustration or those wanting a trip down Memory Lane.

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