The points of issue
Privately printed first (1901, Potter's own, 250 copies) precedes everything; the Warne first commercial edition (Oct. 1902) is the collected trade first: first issue has the 'Frederick Warne & Co.' imprint, the original endpapers, and the first-state of certain plates. The private 1901 printing has a flat spine and black-and-white illustrations plus one color frontispiece.
Is this the true first?
The 1901 privately printed edition (250 + 200 copies) is the absolute true first and is exceedingly rare; the 1902 Warne edition is the first published/commercial first. Distinguish the private printing by its monochrome interior illustrations and Strangeways printer imprint.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Reprints and later Warne printings advance plate states and add later-title advertisements; modern reprints are obvious. The private 1901 vs. the 1902 trade is the critical precedence distinction.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: Privately printed first (1901, Potter's own, 250 copies) precedes everything; the Warne first commercial edition (Oct. 1902) is the collected trade first: first issue has the 'Frederick Warne & Co.' imprint, the original endpapers, and the first-state of certain plates. The private 1901 printing has a flat spine and black-and-white illustrations plus one color frontispiece.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. The 1901 privately printed edition (250 + 200 copies) is the absolute true first and is exceedingly rare; the 1902 Warne edition is the first published/commercial first. Distinguish the private printing by its monochrome interior illustrations and Strangeways printer imprint.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Reprints and later Warne printings advance plate states and add later-title advertisements; modern reprints are obvious. The private 1901 vs. the 1902 trade is the critical precedence distinction.
I have a first edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.