J.M. Barrie

First play edition presentation copy of Barrie's best-known work with distinguished provenance.

• J.M. Barrie (Scottish).
• Peter Pan Or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up.
• London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1928.
• Inscribed on the front blank endleaf "To my dear Jane Pan from her loving admirer and uncle and servant J. M. Barrie. Aug 31, 1930, Stanway."
• Bound in the publisher's deluxe blue limp leather binding with circular gilt JMB device on front cover, gilt decorated spine, top edge gilt.

An important presentation/association copy of this classic children's fantasy play with a superb inscription. "Jane" was the lifelong nickname given to Sylvia Jocelyn Llewellyn Davies, the daughter of Jack Lewellyn Davies, one of the principal inspirations for Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Jane was named after her grandmother, the daughter of French-born cartoonist and writer George du Maurier, who was a close companion of Barrie's whose death would lead to the author becoming the guardian of her sons. RBH locates only five inscribed copies of this work, with only one that might be as close a personal association. That being a copy of the Rackham illustrated limited edition of “Peter Pan” inscribed by Rackham to Barrie and additionally inscribed by Barrie to his sister Maggie. That copy sold in 2011 for $35,000.

By descent through the family of Jack Llewellyn Davies and thence to the present owner.