Drawing of a squirrel handing up nuts as a gift to another squirrel by Beatrix Potter, late 19th century; Linder Bequest cat. no. LB.1012.

A highly detailed illustration completed in pen and ink with grey wash. A squirrel is in the foreground resting on a wooden ledge by a wooden door within a tree trunk, passing a gift up to another squirrel who peers out from a window in the tree trunk. Woodland and distant hills in the background.

Linder Bequest [plus object number; written on labels on the same line as the object number]

Drawn by Beatrix Potter in ca. 1895. 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. A note in the mount reads 'From 'Moira and Jane Taylor; on behalf of the children of the Victoria Private Teaching Nursery, 84, Victoria Road West, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear NE31 1LR'. The nursery opened in 1972.

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 exceptionally detailed pen, ink and wash drawing probably dates to the period before any of Potter's books had been published. Potter’s inscription on the verso states: ‘This is a very old drawing.’

BP.429