Barrie, J.M.

8vo (200 x 136mm.), first edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author to Diana Cooper ("To Diana Manners | from her friend | J.M. Barrie | Christmas 1911") on preliminary blank, frontispiece with pictorial title-page and 11 plates by F.D. Bedford, original pictorial vellum gilt, top edge gilt,  quarter morocco folding box by the Dragonfly bindery, very minor wear and bumping to spine, slight splitting to upper hinge

Lady Diana Cooper, Viscountess Norwich, bookplates; Christie's East, 5 December 1996, lot 9; Donald G. Drapkin, sale of his library at Christie's New York, 29 June 2005, lot 15

(copies bound in cloth:) Garland, pp. 72-73; Block, p. 18; Cutler 61

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The extremely rare limited vellum-bound edition.

The character of Peter Pan first appeared in The White Bird in 1902. The stage play was first performed in 1904 (published in 1928) and Barrie published this novel, based on the play, in 1911. The standard edition was issued in pictorial cloth gilt. This vellum issue, unrecorded by Garland, Block and Cutler, was presumably produced in an extremely limited number by the publishers. No other copy has been sold at auction in the last thirty-five years. Even the author's step-daughter only received a copy in the standard binding.

The recipient, Diana Manners, was to become Lady Diana Cooper, Viscountess Norwich (1892-1986), the actress and English socialite. Evelyn Waugh later fictionalized her as Mrs Stitch in his Sword of Honour trilogy. The present copy includes her bookplates on front fixed and front free endpapers.