Peter and Wendy by James M. Barrie, First American Trade Edition, 1911

Barrie, James M. Peter and Wendy. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, [1911]. First American trade edition. Illustrated by F. D. Bedford. 8vo. In publisher's original pale green cloth boards, front board and spine stamped and titled in gilt. 

Presented is the first American trade edition of James Barrie’s Peter and Wendy. This edition was published in New York by Charles Scribner’s Sons, in 1911. It is presented here in the publisher’s original pale green cloth boards, with both boards and the spine sumptuously stamped and lettered in gilt. The book is further decorated with a frontispiece, illustrated title page, and 11 plates by F. D. Bedford. 

James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937) was a Scottish born writer, working and writing in London. In 1902, he wrote The Little White Bird, the first introduction to his character Peter Pan. In 1904, Barrie wrote a play version of Peter Pan, a slightly different version of the young boy going on adventures in Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys, and battling the infamous Captain Hook. The play “Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up” debuted at the Duke of York's Theatre in London in December 1904. A year later, a Broadway production was mounted starring Maude Adams. 

The play was incredibly successful and Barrie continued to tinker, write and rewrite, and make changes to his story. He wrote the illustrated novella Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens in 1906, an epilogue to his play “An After Thought” in 1908, and finally his full-length novel Peter and Wendy in 1911. Peter and Wendy was published by Hodder & Stoughton in England and Charles Scribner's Sons in the United States.

The book contains a frontispiece and 11 half-tone plates by the artist F. D. Bedford. The novel follows the play closely, though its final chapter is an addition to the original work. Peter and Wendy later became the framework for the popular Disney movie adaptation. 

CONDITION: 

Good condition. 8vo. In the publisher's original pale green cloth, front board and spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt. Spine sunned, some wear, several gutters over-opened. Deckled page edges.  Interior pages are in good condition, with light toning. Small sticker on first free end page bottom left corner "Chas. E. Lauriat Co. Importers & Booksellers, 385 Was'n St. Boston".  Illustrated with frontispiece, illustrated title-page and 11 plates. 

Dimensions: 8 1/4" H x 5 7/8" W x 1 7/16" D.

 Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.