The Beatrix Potter Society produces publications regularly, which anyone can purchase. Members of the society create publications to promote the study and appreciation of the life and works of Beatrix Potter.
The Society shares original research through an active publishing programme. As well as publishing a study every two years, the society also creates publications focusing on the art, interests and writings of Beatrix Potter.
The Beatrix Potter Society distributes a Journal and Newsletter to its Members three times annually. These contain articles relating to Beatrix Potter and the Society itself. There are items of new scholarly research, reports on meetings and events, news from the National Trust’s Beatrix Potter properties, the V&A and other Beatrix Potter-related places. Experts and enthusiasts, Members and non-Members, write these unique articles on Beatrix Potter’s life and work.
Not yet a Member? Become a Member today to get the next instalment!
Become a memberThe Beatrix Potter Society was founded in November 1980, and its very first Newsletter was published immediately – four black-and-white pages with no illustrations, other than the familiar mouse logo. It describes the purpose of the Society and gives notification of some Potter-related exhibitions and books, as well as information about where to find collections of original Potter material. There is also a tribute to Enid Linder, sister of Leslie (Beatrix Potter’s first collector, who transcribed her coded Journal). Miss Linder died before she could take up her role as one of the Society’s two Patrons (the other being Margaret Lane, author of the first biography of Beatrix Potter), but Newsletter 1 announces the inauguration of an annual Linder Lecture – still going strong – in memory of the Linder family.
For many years, the Newsletter was a quarterly black-and-white publication, and its scope – and size – grew with the Society, reporting on its activities and on the life and work of Beatrix Potter. In 2012 it became the Journal and Newsletter, in recognition of its contribution to new research and scholarship, and was regularly thirty-two or even thirty-six pages in length, fully illustrated in both black-and-white and colour (introduced in 2004) and packed with information. Now, issues come three times a year, but each one is more likely to be forty or even forty-four pages – still full of illustrations, and with information that is not available anywhere else. There have been several editors over the years, all unpaid volunteers, and contributions, questions and comments are welcomed from Members and non-Members alike.
For nearly forty-five years, these publications have been for Members only, but – as part of the Society’s charitable remit, and to take advantage of digital means of spreading the word about Beatrix Potter – the Trustees have decided that it is time for some of their remarkable contents to be made more widely available. This first small selection will be added to regularly, and the hope is that it will not only illustrate the work of the Society and its Members – who are truly international – but also allow the sharing of some previously unknown and fascinating research not published anywhere else.
Where possible, the illustrations originally shown with each article are printed here, but for copyright and other reasons we have not been able to include them all, and you will see that some images have been blacked out. We apologise for any disappointment, but this is something that the Trustees and Committee will be working to improve. We have also removed certain personal details and data which should not be shared beyond the Society membership.
Some of the articles posted assume contextual or background knowledge which might be unfamiliar to members of the public, especially those who have not read the biographies and other books about Beatrix Potter, or who know her only from the little books, or the ‘Miss Potter’ film or from visits to Hill Top. If you would like to know more, or have a question, please email info@beatrixpottersociety.org, or submit the ‘get in touch’ form on the ‘contact us’ page of the Beatrix Potter Society website and someone will try to help you.
When Enid Linder died in 1980, a charitable Trust – now The Linder Trust – was set up in her name. It has generously supported The Beatrix Potter Society over the years, and is the source of the grant which is funding this new digital publication initiative on the website.
You can purchase select previous issues of the Journal and Newsletter from our shop. Below are some of the most recent issues.
The Journal and Newsletter (originally called the Newsletter) has been for Members only, but with the help of a generous Linder Foundation grant, the Trustees have decided that it is time for some of their remarkable contents to be made more widely available. This selection of articles will be added to regularly to allow the sharing of some previously unknown and fascinating research not published anywhere else.
Below, in order of publication date, is a selection of recommended books about Beatrix Potter published elsewhere, all illustrated, many with bibliographies. Unfortunately some of these books are now out of print, but they are available from good libraries, and second-hand on the internet or from book dealers.
ISBN 10: 0876752822 | ISBN 13: 9780876752821
ISBN 10: 0723213348 | ISBN 13: 978-0723213345
ISBN 10: 0723253633 | ISBN 13: 978-0723253631
ISBN 10: 0723236259 | ISBN 13: 978-0723236252
ISBN 10: 0723239908 | ISBN 13: 978-0723239901
ISBN 10: 0723241953 | ISBN 13: 9780723241959
ISBN 10: 0723235619 | ISBN 13: 978-0723235613
ISBN 10: 0723240477 | ISBN 13: 978-0723240471
ISBN 10: 0723246769 | ISBN 13: 9780723246763
ISBN 10: 0723241759 | ISBN 13: 9780723241751
ISBN 10: 0723257000 | ISBN 13: 978-0723257004
ISBN-10: 0711227233 | ISBN-13: 978-0711227231
ASIN: B009XQY666
ISBN 10: 1850588791 | ISBN 13: 978-1850588795
ISBN 10: 190681743X | ISBN 13: 978-1906817435
ISBN 10: 1604693630 | ISBN 13: 978-1604693638
ISBN 10: 1250094194 | ISBN 13: 978-1250094193
ISBN 13: 978-1911657408
ISBN 978-1-84359-477-2
ISBN 978-1-84359-509-0
ISBN 10: 178497563X, ISBN-13: 978-1784975630
ISBN 10: 145215127X, ISBN 13: 978-1452151274
ISBN 13: 978-0-9934090-3-5
ISBN 978-1617456107
ISBN: 978-88-5503-127-1
ISBN: 978-1-4766-8062-0
ISBN: 978-0847871438.
ISBN: 9780300232240
ASIN: B011MFO1B0
ISBN 10: 0241289653, ISBN 13: 978-0241289655
ISBN-10: 0723244278 | ISBN-13: 978-0723244271
ISBN 10: 0241217946 | ISBN 13: 978-0241217948
ISBN 10: 0241249376 | ISBN 13: 978-0241249376
ISBN: 978-0-8075-5175-2.
ISBN: 978-1499809602.
ISBN: 978-1423657187
ISBN: 978-1839941078
ISBN: 978-0-241-48045-8
ISBN: 978-1641604406
The Society also has a range of merchandise you can purchase from our shop. Below is a selection of products available to buy. Plus, you are entitled to a discount on most purchases if you are a Member.
