First American Edition Beatrix Potter's "The Tailor of Gloucester" – 1931 Renewed, F. Warne & Co., with Dust Jacket
Once upon a thread, in a world where mice sewed by moonlight and waistcoats mattered greatly, The Tailor of Gloucester stitched its way into literary immortality. Here we have a rare gem—a first American edition, 4th printing of Beatrix Potter’s beloved tale, published by F. Warne & Co. with a copyright renewed in 1931. The dust jacket, like a well-loved overcoat passed down through generations, shows only the faintest touch of time and now rests safely within a protective wrapper. Inside, the binding is tight, the pages are crisp, and the color illustrations? As vivid as a spring meadow in full bloom.
Beatrix Potter wasn’t just spinning yarns—she was weaving philosophies. A fierce conservationist, mycologist, and quietly rebellious artist, she knew a good story should outlive its teller. As a child, my mother read me nearly all 28 of her books, and I still see her hand in every brushstroke. This book is more than a bedtime story—it's a quiet resistance against time, a reminder that sometimes, mice make the best tailors and rabbits can be too posh for the classroom.
Controversial? Occasionally. Canceled by London schools in the '80s for showcasing “middle-class rabbits”? Absolutely. But in a world of chaos, Potter’s world offers us one constant: whimsy. And honestly, what better protest is there than a beautifully illustrated waistcoat?
