Potter (Beatrix) Complete set of four original illustrations for the nursery rhyme, 'This pig went to market', four illustrations on three sheets, the first sheet 'This Pig went to Market/ This Pig staid at home', the second with 'This Pig had a bit of Meat;' [together with] 'And this Pig had none!', and the third 'This little Pig cried "Wee! Wee! Wee! I can't find my way home!", pen and black ink, traces of pencil under-drawing, watercolour, heightened with touches of white, on wove paper, each sheet approx. 225 x 285 mm (8 3/4 x 11 1/4 in), under glass, minor spotting and surface dirt, uniformly framed, circa 1890 (3)

⁂ The only complete set of illustrations by the artist for a nursery rhyme, known to have survived.

The present set were originally drawn by Beatrix Potter in the 1890s for her cousin, Stephanie Hyde-Parker. In 1922, with encouragement by Anne Carroll Moore of New York Public Library, Potter decided to publish a book of nursery rhymes, chiefly comprised from old drawings with a few alterations and additions. The present works were used as the basis for her illustrations of the rhyme in Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes, though these contained several alterations, most notably the reversal of the final drawing.

"This picture is of special interest as it shows the famous Hill Top pony and trap. The pony's name was "Dolly", whilst the stay-at-home pig was "Old Sallie", who used to open the garden gate, and follow her mistress about , and search in her pocket for apples" - Quinby p.115.

Provenance:
Collection of the Hyde-Parker family; by descent
Sale. Sotheby's, London, 18th November 1999, lot 175 (sold for £73,000 incl. premium)
Sale. Sotheby's, London, Children's Books and Illustrations, 10th July 2012, lot 161; where acquired by the present owners.