Manuscript of The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse
Manuscript
1909 (made)
1909 (made)
Artist/Maker |
Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators. She wrote the majority of the twenty-three original Peter Rabbit books between 1901 and 1913. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne, 1902) is her most famous and best-loved tale.
This manuscript notebook by Beatrix Potter outlines the story of The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse, published 1910. The notebook is inscribed to Nellie Warne the daughter of one of Potter's publishers, Harold, dated January 1st 1910. Some of Potter's best loved tales began life in picture letter form sent to various children of her friends and relations. There are eight watercolours depicting the mouse Mrs Tittlemouse's various animal, including many insect, visitors to her initially clean underground home. Twenty-one pages of text accompany the illustrations.
This manuscript notebook by Beatrix Potter outlines the story of The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse, published 1910. The notebook is inscribed to Nellie Warne the daughter of one of Potter's publishers, Harold, dated January 1st 1910. Some of Potter's best loved tales began life in picture letter form sent to various children of her friends and relations. There are eight watercolours depicting the mouse Mrs Tittlemouse's various animal, including many insect, visitors to her initially clean underground home. Twenty-one pages of text accompany the illustrations.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Manuscript of The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and watercolour on paper within a leather covered notebook. |
Brief description | Illustrated manuscript of The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse by Beatrix Potter; Linder Bequest catalogue LB.1160. |
Physical description | Small dark green leather covered exercise book containing 30 ff, 7 of which are blank. Text written out on rectos on gold ruled lines. Watercolour illustrations stuck on versos. Illustrations are of a mouse in human clothing and various other insects and creatures. |
Dimensions |
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Content description | 61 page book with the following: 1) Inscription: 'For Nellie, with love & best wishes for A Happy New Year Jan 1st 1910.' 2) Blank 3) Title 4) Pasted in watercolour of mouse in four-poster bed 5) Manuscript text 6) Blank 7) Manuscript text 8) Pasted in watercolour of ladybird in foreground with mouse carrying a dust-pan and brush in background. 9) Manuscript text 10) Blank 11) Manuscript text 12) Pasted in watercolour of mouse carrying basket over arm wearing pink over-garment and cap, facing to the left 13) Manuscript text 14) Blank 15) Manuscript text 16) Pasted in watercolour of mouse holding a round wicker object, bee in the foreground all in oval vignette 17) Manuscript text 18) Blank 19) Manuscript text 20) Blank 21) Manuscript text 22) Pasted in watercolour of frog in purple dress coat, hands clasped together with thumbs pointing up. On rocking chair, facing left 23) Manuscript text 24) Blank 25) Manuscript text 26) Pasted in watercolour of frog in purple dress coat, thumbs together looking up as parts of dandelion float upwards 27) Manuscript text 28) Blank 29) Manuscript text 30) Pasted in watercolour of frog peering into a cupboard. Mouse looking on. 31) Manuscript text 32) Blank 33) Manuscript text 34) Blank 35) Manuscript text 36) Blank 37) Manuscript text 38) Pasted in watercolour of mouse with eyes closed facing downwards, in a rocking chair facing left 39) Manuscript text 40) Blank 41) Manuscript text 42) Blank 43) Manuscript text 44) Blank 45) Manuscript text 46 - 61) Blank |
Credit line | Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number] |
Object history | Written and drawn by Beatrix Potter probably in 1909-1910 and given to Nellie Warne 1 January 1910. Acquired by the V&A from Leslie Linder (1904-1973) in 1973 as part of the Linder Bequest, a collection of ca. 2150 watercolours, drawings, literary manuscripts, correspondence, books, photographs, and other memorabilia associated with Beatrix Potter and her family. |
Subjects depicted | |
Literary reference | 'The original manuscript of The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse was given to Harold Warne's little girl, Nellie, as a New Year's present. The story is neatly written out in a small leather notebook... in it there are twenty-one pages of text and eight paintings... The family called it 'Nellie's little book,' and these are the words which appear on the dedication page of the printed book.' (Linder: A history of the writings of Beatrix Potter, p.206). |
Summary | Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) is one of the world's best-loved children's authors and illustrators. She wrote the majority of the twenty-three original Peter Rabbit books between 1901 and 1913. The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Frederick Warne, 1902) is her most famous and best-loved tale. This manuscript notebook by Beatrix Potter outlines the story of The Tale of Mrs Tittlemouse, published 1910. The notebook is inscribed to Nellie Warne the daughter of one of Potter's publishers, Harold, dated January 1st 1910. Some of Potter's best loved tales began life in picture letter form sent to various children of her friends and relations. There are eight watercolours depicting the mouse Mrs Tittlemouse's various animal, including many insect, visitors to her initially clean underground home. Twenty-one pages of text accompany the illustrations. |
Bibliographic reference | 'Hobbs and Whalley, Beatrix Potter : the V&A Collection, London, 1985'
Brief catalogue entry, no. 1160 |
Other number | LB.1160 - Linder Bequest catalogue no. |
Collection | |
Library number | BP.598 |
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Record created | February 23, 2012 |
Record URL |
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