Beatrix Potter collection valued at £250,000

A visitor to the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow was left stunned when told a collection of Beatrix Potter artwork he had was worth £250,000 (€361491), a book expert revealed today.

Jack Swanston had brought the 23 drawings and watercolours to be valued when the popular programme visited his local area, Dumfries in Scotland during May.

But he never realised the value of the collection which belonged to his wife’s family.

Clive Farahar, an antiquarian book seller who examined the pieces for the Sunday evening show, said: “I was very excited, it was the most expensive item I’ve ever valued.

“The story is they came through Mr Swanston’s wife’s family. Her grandfather knew Beatrix Potter’s brother who farmed in the borders quite near to the artist’s home.

“A lot of these pre-date Peter Rabbit which came out in 1902. Many are sketches and a lot are half finished which doesn’t make them any less interesting.

“They show small animals like kittens or mice and rabbits set in human settings doing human things.

“Mr Swanston was incredibly polite when I told him the value but his eyebrows went through the roof.”

Potter created around 20 well-loved children’s tales involving a host of animal characters including Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.

Born in 1866 in South Kensington, London she initially published her first book Peter Rabbit herself before finding a publisher.

Potter would write out her stories in an exercise book, paste in a few watercolours and a number of pen-and-ink sketches and then present it as a gift to a favoured child.

In this way, she was able to try out her books on real children first but she would borrow the little books back while working on the finished illustrations.

Later in life she moved to the village of Sawrey in the Lake District and spent her last few decades extending her farm property and raising Herdwick sheep before her death in 1943.

Mr Farahar added: “Demand for Beatrix Potter’s artwork has taken off over the last five years led by the Japanese and Americans.

“But Mr Swanston’s not going to sell them, he’s going to put them in the bank.”

The next series of the Antiques Roadshow begins on September 7 and the Beatrix Potter collection will be featured on October 12.