Potter (Beatrix) The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit, first edition, in panoramic format, first issue with London & New York on the back of the wallet, comprising 14 colour illustrations facing text printed in green, all within green borders and linen-backed, title and imprint on mounted mottled rose paper, some superficial paper splitting at hinges, original red cloth wallet covers with mounted colour illustration, lettering and decorations in black, some light rubbing and surface soiling, but a near-fine example overall, [Linder p.183 & 426; Quinby 12], oblong 16mo, 1906.

⁂ In the scarce variant red cloth, possibly part of a trial run (see also lot 26)

Fierce Bad Rabbit was created as part of a planned three book series for younger readers, only two of which were published in Potter's lifetime. The story was written for Louie Warne, Harold Warne's daughter, who had told Potter that Peter was far too good a rabbit and that she would like to read a story of a badly behaved one. The format was popular with the public but disliked by booksellers as the constant folding and unfolding of the book by browsing customers was liable to damage the book.