A first edition of one of the most famous children’s books, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, is going under the hammer.

The book, featuring 41 full-page line drawings and estimated to fetch £35,000, was printed privately by Beatrix Potter in 1901 after several children’s book publishers turned her down.

The work became a hit with friends and family and a publisher decided to release the book.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit book
The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Lauren Hurley/PA)

Other highlights in the sale of Beatrix Potter memorabilia, which marks the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth, include an original watercolour design for The Story of Miss Moppet.

Created in 1906, the drawing of the mouse – estimated to fetch up to £12,000 – was autographed by Potter and includes her notes.

The auction also features an illustration, created before Potter made her name as an author, for a Christmas card of a mouse in a nest.

Many of the 62 lots come from the John Cawood Collection, amassed by the collector since 1972.

The Dreweatts & Bloomsbury auction takes place in London on July 28.