J M Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy

Not dated [1931]. Blue cloth boards with gorgeous decorations showing Peter and children flying over the streets of London, black and gilt (a little faded at edges and on spine, lightly rubbed at extremities). 271pp, plus one. In a dust jacket which repeats the boards illustrations (a little chipped at edges with minor loss along leading fold, short closed tears across spine). First edition to be illustrated by Gwynedd Hudson, with 21 full page colour illustrations, decorated chapter headings and decorations in the margins of each page. Internally bright, crisp and clean, barring a previous owner's inscription (neatly done in pencil) on the half title page. Hudson illustrated only two classic fantasy books - this one and an earlier, 1922, edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Not much is known of Hudson. A contemporary of Mable Lucy Atwell, Lucy Kemp Welsh and Virginia Sterrett, working during the golden age of Edwardian gift books. There are similarities in their styles. Hudson's decorations in particular remind me of those of Arthur Rackham. Her output was modest but it is exquisite and highly desirable. A large & heavy volume which may require an additional charge for delivery outside the UK. 4to 0 Hudson, Gwynedd M Illustrated Books, gift books, children's gift books