The Fairy Caravan
Beatrix Potter (London 1866 - Near Sawrey, Cumbria 1943)
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
1927 - 1929
Materials
Ink, Paper
Measurements
253 x 203 mm; 280 sheets (Extent)
Order this imageCollection
Beatrix Potter Gallery, Cumbria
NT 242229.1
Summary
Manuscript of The Fairy Caravan, written in ink on lined paper. This manuscript contains multiple drafts of parts of most chapters of the published version. The chapters which are missing from this manuscript are chapters 5, 22 and 23 of the published version. The drafts are written on loose sheets of a variety of different papers, and drafts on similar paper would appear to be contemporary; the earlier drafts appear to be written on the larger size flimsy paper, with subsequent drafts on smaller sheets. It may be possible to attempt to 'reconstruct' an early draft of the book because of this. As far as possible the manuscript has been divided into chapters, using the original groupings in which the sheets were found, and the drafts of the chapters have been arranged in a tentative chronological order (which may need re-evaluating after further research). The original groupings were fastened with pins and paperclips which have been removed, leaving many rust stains on the paper. See also HIL.R.28.2, HIL.R.29, HIL.R.30, HIL.R.33, other manuscripts of The Fairy Caravan.
Makers and roles
Beatrix Potter (London 1866 - Near Sawrey, Cumbria 1943), writer