Frederick Warne & Co
Encyclopedia
Frederick Warne & Co was a British
publishing firm famous for children's books, particularly those of Beatrix Potter
. It was founded in 1865 by a bookseller, who gave his own name to the firm.
, who also went on to found his own publishing company.
During the second half of the nineteenth century, Warne's firm built a reputation based upon its children's list, publishing illustrated books by such well-known authors and artists as Edward Lear
, Kate Greenaway
and Walter Crane
. Toward the end of the century, Frederick Warne retired and handed the management of the business over to his three sons, Harold, Fruing, and Norman
.
Warne was among the six publishers to whom Beatrix Potter
submitted her first book, the story of a rabbit called Peter. As did the other five, Warne turned the proposal down. People at the company changed their minds, however, when they saw the privately printed edition of the book in 1901. They offered to publish it if Potter redid the illustrations in color. The next year, Warne published The Tale of Peter Rabbit
, and by Christmas
had sold 20,000 copies. Thus began a forty-year partnership that saw the publication of twenty-two additional Little Books and the development of a flourishing merchandising program, the first of its kind based on a children's book.
Beatrix Potter
was engaged to marry Norman Warne
, her editor and the youngest of the three Warne brothers. However, he died in 1905, only a few weeks after their engagement. Harold, the eldest brother, took over as Potter's editor. She continued to produce one or two new Little Books each year for the next eight years until her marriage in 1913 to William Heelis. During the next few years Potter turned her attention to her farm work, but when the company fell on hard times and Harold was imprisoned for embezzlement, she came to the rescue with another new title to support "the old firm." Potter, who had no children, left the rights to her works to Warne upon her death. The company continued to publish them; it also brought out several biographical works about its most renowned author. Over the years, Warne also expanded its nonfiction publishing, issuing among others the world-famous Observer books, and the Wayside and Woodland series which dealt in depth with a range of plant and animal groups, most notably insects. Both series are now highly collectable.
In 1983, Frederick Warne was acquired by Penguin books
. As a division of Penguin, it began developing classic book-based children's character brands. The merchandising program was expanded from a base of thirty-five licenses to more than four hundred by the late 1990s. Over the years Warne acquired a number of other classic book properties, including Cicely Mary Barker
's Flower Fairies
in 1989 and Eric Hill
's Spot the Dog
in 1993. The hallmarks of the publishing program are beautifully produced editions of the original works, plus lively spin-off books ranging from baby record books and treasuries to board books and novelty titles. All of Beatrix Potter's original artwork was re-photographed in 1986, and the new editions launched in 1987 were critically acclaimed for the quality of reproduction. Similarly, the Flower Fairies books were re-originated in 1990.
Today, Potter's characters and others appear on a host of products worldwide. They are featured in events around the globe, from the Peter Rabbit-themed gardens and events at the Macy’s Flower Show to costume appearances, live theatrical entertainment, and exhibitions of original artwork in such prestigious venues as the Musée D'Orsay
(Paris), the Pierpont Morgan Library (New York) and the Tate Gallery
(London), as well as museums in Australia and Japan. Warne has commissioned video and television programming for both Peter Rabbit and Spot, and its classic brands are an essential part of childhood internationally. A major motion picture about the life of Beatrix Potter Miss Potter, starring Renee Zellweger
as Beatrix Potter and Ewan McGregor
as Norman Warne was released in 2006. While the company no longer exists as an independent company, it continues to exist as an imprint of Penguin Group.
. It was printed again in 1943, and in 1945. When Warne was acquired by Penguin books in 1983, Warne brought out new editions of the Observer's books.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
publishing firm famous for children's books, particularly those of Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
. It was founded in 1865 by a bookseller, who gave his own name to the firm.
History
Frederick Warne was founded in 1865 by a bookseller turned publisher who gave his own name to the firm. The new venture replaced an earlier association between Warne and George RoutledgeGeorge Routledge
George Routledge was a British publisher.He gained his earliest experience of business with a bookseller at Carlisle...
, who also went on to found his own publishing company.
During the second half of the nineteenth century, Warne's firm built a reputation based upon its children's list, publishing illustrated books by such well-known authors and artists as Edward Lear
Edward Lear
Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, author, and poet, renowned today primarily for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form that he popularised.-Biography:...
, Kate Greenaway
Kate Greenaway
Catherine Greenaway , known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children's book illustrator and writer, who spent much of her childhood at Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. She studied at what is now the Royal College of Art in London, which at that time had a separate section for women, and was headed by...
and Walter Crane
Walter Crane
Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most prolific and influential children’s book creator of his generation and, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of...
. Toward the end of the century, Frederick Warne retired and handed the management of the business over to his three sons, Harold, Fruing, and Norman
Norman Warne
Norman Dalziel Warne was the third son of publisher Frederick Warne, and joined his father's firm Frederick Warne & Co. as editor. In 1900 the company rejected Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but eventually reconsidered and published the book in October 1902 to great success...
.
Warne was among the six publishers to whom Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
submitted her first book, the story of a rabbit called Peter. As did the other five, Warne turned the proposal down. People at the company changed their minds, however, when they saw the privately printed edition of the book in 1901. They offered to publish it if Potter redid the illustrations in color. The next year, Warne published The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and returns home to his mother who puts him to bed after dosing him with camomile tea...
, and by Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
had sold 20,000 copies. Thus began a forty-year partnership that saw the publication of twenty-two additional Little Books and the development of a flourishing merchandising program, the first of its kind based on a children's book.
Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
was engaged to marry Norman Warne
Norman Warne
Norman Dalziel Warne was the third son of publisher Frederick Warne, and joined his father's firm Frederick Warne & Co. as editor. In 1900 the company rejected Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but eventually reconsidered and published the book in October 1902 to great success...
, her editor and the youngest of the three Warne brothers. However, he died in 1905, only a few weeks after their engagement. Harold, the eldest brother, took over as Potter's editor. She continued to produce one or two new Little Books each year for the next eight years until her marriage in 1913 to William Heelis. During the next few years Potter turned her attention to her farm work, but when the company fell on hard times and Harold was imprisoned for embezzlement, she came to the rescue with another new title to support "the old firm." Potter, who had no children, left the rights to her works to Warne upon her death. The company continued to publish them; it also brought out several biographical works about its most renowned author. Over the years, Warne also expanded its nonfiction publishing, issuing among others the world-famous Observer books, and the Wayside and Woodland series which dealt in depth with a range of plant and animal groups, most notably insects. Both series are now highly collectable.
In 1983, Frederick Warne was acquired by Penguin books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
. As a division of Penguin, it began developing classic book-based children's character brands. The merchandising program was expanded from a base of thirty-five licenses to more than four hundred by the late 1990s. Over the years Warne acquired a number of other classic book properties, including Cicely Mary Barker
Cicely Mary Barker
Cicely Mary Barker was an English illustrator best known for a series of fantasy illustrations depicting fairies and flowers. Barker's art education began in girlhood with correspondence courses and instruction at the Croydon School of Art...
's Flower Fairies
Flower fairies
Flower Fairies are illustrations by Cicely Mary Barker, created during the first half of the 20th century.-The Creator of The Flower Fairies:...
in 1989 and Eric Hill
Eric Hill
Eric Gordon Hill OBE is a popular author and illustrator of children's picture books, best known for his character Spot the Dog...
's Spot the Dog
Spot the Dog
Spot the Dog is a series of children's books by Eric Hill, which were later made into a popular children's animation series, known as Spot, for BBC television by David McKee's King Rollo Films....
in 1993. The hallmarks of the publishing program are beautifully produced editions of the original works, plus lively spin-off books ranging from baby record books and treasuries to board books and novelty titles. All of Beatrix Potter's original artwork was re-photographed in 1986, and the new editions launched in 1987 were critically acclaimed for the quality of reproduction. Similarly, the Flower Fairies books were re-originated in 1990.
Today, Potter's characters and others appear on a host of products worldwide. They are featured in events around the globe, from the Peter Rabbit-themed gardens and events at the Macy’s Flower Show to costume appearances, live theatrical entertainment, and exhibitions of original artwork in such prestigious venues as the Musée D'Orsay
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the left bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture,...
(Paris), the Pierpont Morgan Library (New York) and the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
(London), as well as museums in Australia and Japan. Warne has commissioned video and television programming for both Peter Rabbit and Spot, and its classic brands are an essential part of childhood internationally. A major motion picture about the life of Beatrix Potter Miss Potter, starring Renee Zellweger
Renée Zellweger
Renée Kathleen Zellweger is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire , and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary ...
as Beatrix Potter and Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor
Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
as Norman Warne was released in 2006. While the company no longer exists as an independent company, it continues to exist as an imprint of Penguin Group.
Beatrix Potter Books
The twenty three books Warne published by Beatrix Potter were mainly written about animals, and were written from 1902-1930.- The Tale of Peter RabbitThe Tale of Peter RabbitThe Tale of Peter Rabbit is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter that follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and returns home to his mother who puts him to bed after dosing him with camomile tea...
(1902) - The Tale of Squirrel NutkinThe Tale of Squirrel NutkinThe Tale of Squirrel Nutkin is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in August 1903. The story is about an impertinent red squirrel named Nutkin and his narrow escape from an owl called Old Brown. The book followed Potter's hugely...
(1903) - The Tailor of GloucesterThe Tailor of GloucesterThe Tailor of Gloucester is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, privately printed by the author in 1902, and published in a trade edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1903...
(1903) - The Tale of Benjamin BunnyThe Tale of Benjamin BunnyThe Tale of Benjamin Bunny is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1904. The book is a sequel to The Tale of Peter Rabbit , and tells of Peter's return to Mr. McGregor's garden with his cousin Benjamin to retrieve...
(1904) - The Tale of Two Bad MiceThe Tale of Two Bad MiceThe Tale of Two Bad Mice is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1904. Potter took inspiration for the tale from two mice caught in a cage-trap in her cousin's home and a dollhouse being constructed by her editor and...
(1904) - The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-WinkleThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-WinkleThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1905. Mrs. Tiggy-winkle is a hedgehog and a washerwoman who lives in a tiny cottage in the fells of the Lake District. A child named Lucie happens upon...
(1905) - The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-PanThe Tale of the Pie and the Patty-PanThe Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and released by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1905. It tells of a cat called Ribby and a tea party she holds for a dog called Duchess...
(1905) - The Tale of Mr. Jeremy FisherThe Tale of Mr. Jeremy FisherThe Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher is a children's book, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was released by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1906. Jeremy's origin lies in a letter she wrote to a child in 1893. She revised it in 1906, and moved its setting from the River Tay to the English Lake...
(1906) - The Story of A Fierce Bad RabbitThe Story of a Fierce Bad RabbitThe Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit is a children’s book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in December 1906. The book tells of a bad little rabbit who is fired upon by a hunter and loses his tail and whiskers...
(1906) - The Story of Miss MoppetThe Story of Miss MoppetThe Story of Miss Moppet is a tale about teasing featuring a kitten and a mouse, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co for the 1906 Christmas season. Potter was born in London in 1866, and between 1902 and 1905 published a series of small format...
(1906) - The Tale of Tom KittenThe Tale of Tom KittenThe Tale of Tom Kitten is a children's book, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was released by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1907. The tale is about manners and how children react to them. Tabitha Twitchit, a cat, invites friends for tea...
(1907) - The Tale of Jemima Puddle-DuckThe Tale of Jemima Puddle-DuckThe Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1908. Potter composed the book at Hill Top, a working farm in the Lake District she bought in 1905...
(1908) - The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or, The Roly-Poly PuddingThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers or, The Roly-Poly PuddingThe Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1908 as The Roly-Poly Pudding. In 1926, it was re-published as The Tale of Samuel Whiskers...
(1908) - The Tale of the Flopsy BunniesThe Tale of the Flopsy BunniesThe Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1909. After two full-length tales about rabbits, Potter had grown weary of depicting lagomorphs, and initially did not want to create another rabbit...
(1909) - The Tale of Ginger and PicklesThe Tale of Ginger and PicklesThe Tale of Ginger and Pickles is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1909. The book tells of two shopkeepers who extend unlimited credit to their customers and, as a result, are forced to go out of business...
(1909) - The Tale of Mrs. TittlemouseThe Tale of Mrs. TittlemouseThe Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1910. The tale is about housekeeping and insect pests in the home, and reflects Potter's own sense of tidiness and her abhorrence of insect infestations. The...
(1910) - The Tale of Timmy TiptoesThe Tale of Timmy TiptoesThe Tale of Timmy Tiptoes is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1911. Timmy Tiptoes is a squirrel believed a nut-thief by his fellows, and imprisoned by them in a hollow tree with the expectation that he will confess under...
(1911) - The Tale of Mr. TodThe Tale of Mr. TodThe Tale of Mr. Tod is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1912. The tale is about a badger called Tommy Brock and his neighbour Mr. Tod, a fox. Brock kidnaps the children of Benjamin Bunny and his wife Flopsy, and hides them in...
(1912) - The Tale of Pigling BlandThe Tale of Pigling BlandThe Tale of Pigling Bland is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1913...
(1913) - Appley Dapply's Nursery RhymesAppley Dapply's Nursery RhymesAppley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes is a collection of nursery rhymes written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1917. Potter had a lifelong fascination with rhymes, and proposed a book of short verses called Appley Dapply to Warne following the release...
(1917) - The Tale of Johnny Town-MouseThe Tale of Johnny Town-MouseThe Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and first published by Frederick Warne & Co. in December 1918. The tale is based on the Aesop fable, "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse" and tells of a country mouse and a city mouse who visit each...
(1918) - Cecily Parsley's Nursery RhymesCecily Parsley's Nursery RhymesCecily Parsley’s Nursery Rhymes is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in December 1922. The book is a compilation of traditional nursery rhymes such as "Goosey Goosey Gander", "This Little Piggy" and "Three Blind Mice". It was...
(1922) - The Fairy CaravanThe Fairy CaravanThe Fairy Caravan is a book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was first published in 1929. The story follows the adventures of Tuppenny, a young guinea pig who runs away from home to join a travelling circus....
(1929) - The Tale of Little Pig RobinsonThe Tale of Little Pig RobinsonThe Tale of Little Pig Robinson is a children's book written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and first published simultaneously in Britain by Frederick Warne & Co. and in America by David McKay Company in September 1930. The tale is the story of the pig in Edward Lear's "The Owl and the...
(1930)
Observer's Books
From 1937 to 2003, Warne published small, pocket sized books, which were available on many subjects. The aim of these books were to interest the observer. They were called the Observer's books. These books were very popular amongst children. Over the past few years they have become very popular collector items. The first Observer guide was published in 1937, and was on the subject of British Birds. The same year, Warne published a second book, on British Wild Flowers. By 1941, Warne had published the first six Observer's books. In 1942, a special edition book was brought out on Airplanes. This book had no number in the series, as it was brought out to help people spot enemy planes during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was printed again in 1943, and in 1945. When Warne was acquired by Penguin books in 1983, Warne brought out new editions of the Observer's books.
External links
- Frederick Warne & Co
- Frederick Warne at Penguin BooksPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
- Frederick Warne Archive, University of Reading Special Collections
- Frederick Warne Archive, University of Bristol Library Special Collections