GINGER & PICKLES by Potter, Beatrix - 1909

1909. Potter, Beatrix. London: Frederick Warne and Co., 1909. Original pale buff boards decorated in dark green, with color pictorial onlay.

First Edition of this tale about a country village store, run by a tom-cat named Ginger and a terrier named Pickles. Ginger and Pickles do very well -- sort of: sales are great, since they provide unlimited credit, but they don't seem to care whether or not they ever get paid. Beatrix Potter based the tale upon an actual shop in Smithy Lane, Sawrey -- close to her Hill Top Farm. This was the third of her books to be issued in the larger format -- though beginning in 1930 it was reduced in size to the small format, along with "The Tale of" being added to the title (at that time two illustrations were modified to show biscuits and soap available in 1930). Copies were issued in pale olive green or in buff-colored boards; this copy is the latter. Condition is near-fine (spine slightly darkened, but scarcely any wear other than one small mark on the rear cover). Linder p. 428.