1908 Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J. M. Barrie [Charlie and Shirley Watts' Copy]

Fifth edition. From the library at Halsdon House, owned by Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and his wife Shirley. A classic title from Barrie, and the second Peter Pan story which features a huge section of 50 colour plates. Barrie's fantasy follows the narrative that all infants are part human, part bird, and in this particular title, Peter Pan escapes his London home to return to Kensington Gardens where he is raised by all manner of birds and fairies. With the publication of this title Rackham was able to demonstrate his fantasy work at its best, drafting similaries between fae and human that added a new depth to the author's story: "His fairies...show astringent traces of malice, also display other all-too-human traits like jealousy, rage and sulkiness, and rarely allow mere prettiness and sentimentality to creep in." [Hamilton, Arthur Rackham: A Life with Illustration, pg. 11].

In good condition with sunning to the spine area and adjoining portion of the front board, half title page and frontispiece loose, light sporadic foxing, corners bumped and spine lightly tugged at top, general edge wear. All plates bar frontispiece bound to the rear as standard. Bound in brown cloth with gilt titles to spine, gilt titles and goat motif to front board. Endpapers also illustrated with map by Rackham. 26 x 19 cm. Pp. xii, 125, plates.