The Adventures of Peter Cottontail by Thornton W. Burgess, Illustrated by Harrison Cady, 1916

Burgess, Thornton W. The Adventures of Peter Cottontail. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1916. Illustrated by Harrison Cady. “The Bedtime Story Books” Edition. Small octavo. Beige pictorial cloth boards, front board stamped and titled in red and black, black stamped titles on the spine. Six full-page black and white illustrations, including frontispiece. With a new archival beige cloth slipcase with front inlay. 

This early edition of The Adventures of Peter Cottontail was published in Boston by Little, Brown, and Company in 1916 as part of Thornton W. Burgess’ popular “Bedtime Story Books” series. The volume is bound in beige pictorial cloth boards, the front cover intricately stamped and titled in red and black, with black stamped titles to the spine. The book is illustrated with six full-page black and white illustrations by Harrison Cady, including the frontispiece. The illustrations capture the lively character and woodland setting of Burgess’ stories, bringing visual personality to the animals of the Green Forest and the Green Meadows. 

The Adventures of Peter Cottontail forms part of Burgess’ long-running series of nature stories that were originally developed from the author’s widely read newspaper column, “Bedtime Stories,” first syndicated in 1910. These stories introduced young readers to a cast of recurring animal characters who inhabit the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, including Peter Rabbit, Jimmy Skunk, Reddy Fox, and Grandfather Frog. In this volume, Peter Cottontail becomes the central figure, and the narrative follows his encounters and escapades among the woodland community while also imparting lessons about nature, prudence, and cooperation. Burgess’ stories were designed to entertain children while also fostering an appreciation for wildlife and the natural world. The Bedtime Story Books became among the most popular American children’s series of the early twentieth century, and many titles remained in print for decades.

Thornton Waldo Burgess (1874–1965) was an American author and conservationist whose work played a significant role in introducing generations of children to natural history through storytelling. Born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, Burgess developed an early interest in the wildlife of coastal New England. A journalist, editor, and novelist, he began writing his syndicated “Bedtime Stories” newspaper column in 1912, which brought him national recognition. Over the course of his career he produced more than 170 books and thousands of individual stories centered on animal characters and their habitats. Burgess was also a dedicated advocate for wildlife conservation, founding the Green Meadow Club and participating in numerous efforts to promote environmental awareness. His stories combined imaginative narratives with careful observation of animal behavior, allowing young readers to learn about nature in an engaging and accessible way.

The illustrations in this volume are the work of Harrison Cady (1877–1970), a prolific American illustrator of children’s literature in the early twentieth century. Cady studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and later in New York, and was widely known for his lively pen and ink drawings that accompanied Burgess’ stories. His illustrations appeared not only in the Bedtime Story Books but also in the original newspaper columns and in numerous magazines. Cady’s expressive animals, rendered with humor and personality, while still retaining recognizable natural features, became inseparable from Burgess’ storytelling. The collaboration between Burgess and Cady endured for decades and helped establish a distinct visual identity for the Green Meadows stories.

CONDITION: 

Good condition. Small octavo. Beige pictorial cloth boards, front board stamped and titled in red and black, black stamped titles on the spine. Surface dirt, stains, and fading to cloth boards, including five black marker stains on back boards. Bumping to corners and spine. New joints, linings, and caps. Front free endpaper stamped “50c” in the upper right corner. Previous owner’s signature “Walter Shoman” in black felt-tipped ink on front endpaper. Paper is moderately toned, with occasional foxing marks and small marginal stains. Six full-page black and white illustrations, including frontispiece with tissue guard. Margins of illustration pages are toned with light stains. vii, 120 pp. With a new archival beige cloth slipcase with front inlay. 

Book Dimensions: 6 7/8” H x 4 3/4” W x 3/4” D. 

Slipcase Dimensions: 7 1/4” x 5 1/16” W x 1 1/8” D

Accompanied by our company’s letter of authenticity.