Property of Susie Tompkins Buell

Potter, Beatrix

Color drawing of Peter Rabbit, signed and inscribed. December 1929

Penwork drawing with color wash, (158 x 105 mm), 3-line autograph inscription "A Merry Christmas to Joy Brownlow and the Windermere Girl Guides from Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter, Dec 1929", with 3-line autograph note "Will some kind little Brown Girl paint the Union Jack? I'm so afraid of putting it wrong side up!!", matted, glazed and framed, on verso, 2 photographs (one of Potter, the other of Castle Cottage), each 3 x 2 in.; 76 x 50 mm. With: an ALS ("Beatrix Heelis") to Miss Brownlow, 1 page (6 x 3 7/8 in.; 152 x 98 mm), Castle Co𒀰ttage, Sawrey, 13 August 1943, inviting her to bring more Girl Guides to visit tꦉhe Cottage.

A splendid iconic drawing sent as a Christmas card.

Joy Brownlow was the County Camp Advisor for the Girl Guides, who arranged regular visits to Potter's property for camping and admiring her work. She fꦬrequently gave the Guides autographed copies of her books to give as prizes in their competitions, and joined in their activities while on the property.

REFERENCE

See L. Lear, Beatrix Potter: A life in nature (2008), pp. 308 ff.