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.

 Thank you for reading and please +1, share and comment if you have the time!

Worzel Gummidge by Barbara Euphan Todd - An Antique Books Guide

Worzel Gummidge is a renowned character ; an enigmatic scarecrow with a penchant for trouble.

Created by Barbara Euphan Todd, this memorable character was on the television and radio for many years, providing great amusement and helping children to enjoy their childhood from as early as the war. Played by John pertwee in the children's TV adaption, Worzel was a character that few can forget.

What only a handful know however is that Worzel Gummidge first originated in a book, published in 1936
The main reason that I am dedicating a blog post on this hugely successful character-driven series is for the appeal of the books and for the beautiful illustrations that made the book what it is.

Elizabeth Alldridge is the name behind those beautiful full-page line illustrations, and she perfectly captured the character and liveliness of Worzel without the need for colour - this was just before the war after all!
Add to that the wonderfully bright dust-jacket and you have a beautiful children's book.

Have a look through the photos below and if this little post triggered memories then a +1 or comment is much appreciated!

Top Ten Alice In Wonderland - The Most Popular Editions (An Antique Books Guide)

Alice in Wonderland

This story has captivated audiences the world overs, spawned numerous films and is still in print today, nearly one-hundred and fifty after first being published.

Hundreds of artists, illustrators and publishers have taken on this iconic tale of youth, disobedience and nonsense but only a few have made this list of the most important editions ever published.

Among the top ten expect to see famous Golden Age illustrators, beautiful covers and huge variation as I guide you, the reader, through the very best of Alice.

10.  Backhouse edition

Illustrated by the creative G.W Backhouse, this edition is 1940's gold with bold black and white illustrations interspersed between the large and vivid colour ones.

Look out for: The story-boars style illustrations are cartoon-esque and very inventive for a children's book.

9. Humphrey Milford edition

This particular edition is quite difficult to write about as the illustrator is not listed.

The stunning cover decorations straight out of the art-deco 1920's and the sombre illustrations akin to Arthur Rackham allow this edition to hit the number nine spot.

Look out for: The highly decorative covers

8. Gwynedd M. Hudson edition

Illustrations don't get any more vintage than these - delightfully toned down to reflect a more grown up interpretation of Alice. The presentation of this edition is remarkable with Hudson's flair running from the half title page to the very end.

Look out for: The fashionable outfits given to Alice by Hudson are immaculately imagined.

7. Tenniel 'Children's Edition' 

This art-deco edition ran from the late 1920's through to 1978 which is testament not only to the popularity of the book but to the appeal of this edition. With bold art-deco covers and the traditional illustrations by the famed Sir John Tenniel, this edition is delightfully charming throughout.

Look out for: Tenniel's rare colour plates

6. Margaret Tarrant edition

The Tarrant illustrated edition is, in its original form, the most Art-Deco and probably most appropriate of the Alice's listed here. By this I mean that from the covers to the charming period illustrations this edition is exactly what most imagine Alice to be like.

Look out for: The famous colour cover plate perfectly captures one of Alice in Wonderland's memorable scenes.

5. Harry Rountree edition

This rare 1900-1920 edition is not quite as artistically lavish as some of the other editions in this list. What it does have however are illustrations by the famed Harry Rountree who is known for his warm style and especially for his work on Alice.

A classic Alice in Wonderland.

Look out for: The subtle art-deco influence on the covers

4. Rene Cloke edition

This is one of the most common of the vintage Alice's and is remarkable for the level and style of the illustrations. Rene Cloke's edition is a little late for the Art-Deco that seems to influence many other editions in this top ten and so the illustrations and style are a little more creative, a little more varied whilst still relying on bold designs and straight lines.

Look out for: The bold black and uni-colour illustrations between the colour plates are quite simply excellent.

3. Harry Rountree elusive edition

The rating of this edition is solely due to personal favour - I find this one of the most unique editions of Alice out there.

This rare edition comes around for sale online once in a blue moon and always sells well. The decorative boards show the age of this volume and are more highly decorated than any other edition.

Whilst the illustrations are Rountree again, here also features a number of in-text illustrations, making this a rare and well-presented edition.

Look out for: The fantastic reason are partly to blame for the high prices this book achieves.

2. Arthur Rackham's Alice

This is one of the most collected of the Alice's and quite rightly so for the famed Golden Age illustrator Arthur Rackham lent his hand to the story and created a visceral and moody take on the tale.

This edition is the first (1907) and is valued by collector's as one of Rackham;s best works.

Look out for: The frontispiece of Alice is a perfect example of Art-Nouveau illustration and exhibit's Rackhams tone at its best.

Joint 1st: The People's Edition

This edition is truly iconic.

Featuring green covers with a bold red print of Alice among playing cards and with the original John Tenniel illustrations, this Victorian edition was very bold for the era and is one of the first popular editions of this book. This edition is published by the original publishers who printed the first edition of Alice not twenty years before, making this one of the most authentic editions and more than deserving of first place in this count.

The copy pictured below is the joint edition which features 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking Glass'

Look out for: The bold, Victorian covers and original Tenniel illustrations

Join 1st: The Tenniel Colour Illustrated edition

It was too difficult to choose first place in this top ten and so this John Tenniel edition is joined with another John Tenniel edition.

This edition was printed from 1911 onwards and features all of the original black and white illustrations that made Alice in Wonderland so remarkable among children's books and also a good number of colour plates too.

Importantly, the 1911 first edition was the first time these colour plates were printed and the colour is quite different from later editions, making this edition hugely important in terms of Alice history.

With the icon of the white rabbit on the front cover and a great quality shown throughout, this is the definitive edition of Alice in Wonderland and is my first place edition.

Look out for: The remarkable colour illustrations first seen in this edition and the iconic gold rabbit motif on the front cover. The epitome of Alice in Wonderland.

Thanks for reading. I hope you agree that Alice in Wonderland has been marvelously represented by illustrators from around the world and I have only been able to show those that I have been lucky enough to have owned.

As ever all photography is my own and i'm always open to offer advice if you have any questions.

Please share/ comment - I would love for more people to see this one.

Chris