The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Beatrix Potter (London 1866 - Near Sawrey, Cumbria 1943)
Category
Manuscripts and documents
Date
Unknown
Materials
Measurements
180 x 115 mm; 5 sheets (Extent)
Collection
Beatrix Potter Gallery, Cumbria
NT 242254.2
Summary
Copy made by Beatrix of the original Squirrel Nutkin story letter that she wrote to Norah Moore from Lingholm, near Keswick, 25 September 1901. Beatrix borrowed back the original letter early in 1902 and copied it out, making some alterations to the text in the process and marking the manuscript (in pencil, top left of page 1) '1st copy'. Further alterations were made to this copy by pasting strips of paper over unwanted text which was then written over. Beatrix herself appears in the second picture of the letter; she stands beneath a tree while Nutkin throws acorns down at her, the text reading 'he was so impertinent, chattering and clattering and throwing down acorns onto my head.' The first two pages of the letter, including this reference to herself but not the self-portrait, were copied into the next draft of the story (see HIL.R.2) and then deleted, and a revised opening was written based on page 3 of the story letter. The original letter is published in 'Letters to Children' edited by Judy Taylor. See also HIL.R.2, a subsequent manuscript of The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. The original letter to Norah Moore was in the collection of Leslie Linder, and is now in the National Art Library collection of the V and A.This is a single sheet of paper folded in half to create pages 3, 4, 15 & 16
Makers and roles
Beatrix Potter (London 1866 - Near Sawrey, Cumbria 1943), writer