COLLECTING GUIDE Beatrix Potter
NATURAL TALENT Long before a certain boy wizard, Potter-mania referred to the children’s author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. On the eve of a major exhibition celebrating her genius, book specialist Dr Philip W. Errington reveals what makes her so collectable
Beatrix Potter, aged 15, with her dog, Spot, by Rupert Potter, c.1880–1881, print on paper. Linder Bequest. © V&A Museum
Above Complete set of Beatrix Potter deluxe editions, image
courtesy of Peter Harrington
B
eatrix Potter was born into a privileged background, hailing from a successful cotton business family in Manchester. By the mid1840s, the Potters owned the largest calico printworks and their product was world-famous. However, Potter’s father, Rupert, abandoned the family firm, and moved to London to become a lawyer. In 1863, he married Helen Leech and, three years later, their first child was born: Helen Beatrix Potter. She began to show early artistic ability and by the age of 12 a drawing teacher was engaged to nurture her talent. Potter and her younger brother Bertram also kept a menagerie of pets in their nursery (and, later, schoolroom) in Bolton Gardens, Kensington, often smuggling in toads, newts, birds, bats, snakes, mice and, of course, rabbits, without their parents’ knowledge. Potter – who had more than 92 pets during her lifetime – took inspiration from some of them for her stories, notably her domesticated rabbits Benjamin Bouncer and Peter Piper. It was a crucial part of Potter’s upbringing that animals were to be enjoyed, but also studied. When her brother’s bat became unwell, she was given detailed instructions on how to kill and stuff it. A dead squirrel was boiled and then dissected, and – perhaps inconceivable to Peter Rabbit fans – a rabbit was once killed with chloroform. In observing animals and understanding their biology, Beatrix Potter began her other, less wellknown career, as an accomplished anatomical artist. Her skill was not confined to animals, however, and she became adept at drawing fungi and plants. Peter Harrington previously sold a fascinating copy of Peter
Below Picture letter by Beatrix Potter sent to Noel Moore from Heath Park, Birnam, 21 August, 1892. Ink over pencil on paper. © Lloyd E. Cotsen Collection, Princeton University
Above Peter Rabbit in Mr McGregor’s Garden, image courtesy of
Peter Harrington Rare Books
16 ANTIQUE COLLECTING
