[Steiff]--[Potter], Peter Rabbit Doll, [c.1909]

From the Collection of Judy Taylor, MBE

[STEIFF]--[POTTER, BEATRIX]

Soft Toy Doll of Peter Rabbit

wearing a blue bordered felt jacket and red felt slippers with leather soles, 260mm. high, later eyes (probably 1920s), holes in ears and one slipper, lacking Steiff button, lacking whiskers, some holes to coat, remains of manufacturer's import stamp on sole of one slipper, soiled and worn

An example of the RARE Peter Rabbit doll.

Potter made a Peter Rabbit doll in fur and velveteen for one of the Warne children in 1903. However, she failed to find a British manufacturer for the design (despite interest from Harrods) and was incensed to find the German toy manufacturer Steiff supplying shops with an unauthorised toy. This resulted in Potter taking up the issue of Free Trade and drawing posters depicting a Peter Rabbit doll with captions such as "killed by Free Trade with Germany". In a 1910 letter to Harold Warne, Potter stated angrily "...I have not an atom of affection for that doll, you know I have had no money from him for 2 years..."

The design may have varied slightly over time. A version sold in the Mark Ottingnon Collection (Bloomsbury, 27 February 2013) included a jacket with four buttons.

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