Songs of Peter Rabbit, The

London: Frederick Warne & Co., 1951. The Songs of Peter Rabbit"

[POTTER, Beatrix]. GLASS, Dudley. The Songs of Peter Rabbit. Based on "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter. Words and Music by Dudley Glass. London: Frederick Warne & Co., [1951].

First edition. Large quarto (11 15/16 x 9 9/16 inches ; 303 x 243 mm.). 31, [1] pp. With lithographed reproductions of thirty of the original illustrations printed in blue.

Original color pictorial boards with pale green linen backstrip. A tiny bit of rubbing to the corners. Otherwise a near fine copy.

The Story of Peter Rabbit was originally conceived by Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) whilst on holiday with her family at Eastwood, Dunkeld, Scotland. Through the 1890s, Beatrix Potter sent illustrated story letters to the children of her former governess, Annie Moore. On September 4th, 1893 she wrote a 'picture letter' and sent it to Moore's eldest son Noël. This five year old boy was the recipient of what has become one of the most famous letters ever written. "Sep[tember] 4th, [18]93. My dear Noel, I don't know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy Cottontail, and Peter..." (Judy Taylor. Beatrix Potter's Letters, pp. 19-27).

Dudley Jack Glass (1899-1981) was an Australian-born composer, pianist and writer. He is best known for composing musicals and light operas, including The Songs of Peter Rabbit, The Beloved Vagabond and The Toymaker of Nuremberg.

Quinby, p. 116, C8.