While this collaboration celebrates a major milestone, it isn't our first encounter with The World of Peter Rabbit™. Our history with Beatrix Potter stretches back to the 1920s, when we sold a selection of bronze figurines and a miniature Peter Rabbit bookshelf designed to house her iconic storybooks. This historical nod served as the starting point for our design team, who burrowed into the archives to uncover the original sketches and prints that define this collection.
SMYTHSON X PETER RABBIT™
Celebrating 160 years of Beatrix Potter™
Few characters in literature have enchanted quite so many generations as those dreamt up by Beatrix Potter. Born from a deep love of the British countryside, her stories are defined by a distinct blend of characters and meticulous watercolour that has captured imaginations for over a century. To mark her 160th anniversary, we’ve invited Peter Rabbit and his charming friends to play across a collection of Smythson icons, uniting her legacy of illustration with our enduring connection to the literary world.
At the heart of the collection are our signature books, handcrafted in our Hertfordshire workshop. Three of her most beloved characters – Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Squirrel Nutkin – are brought to life, stamped in metallic outlines on our signature Panama size. Two Chelsea notebooks join them, emblazoned with Beatrix Potter quotes, including the famous opening to The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
The interior of each book is just as considered; a 1920s woodland-print lining offers a nod to the natural world that defined her life’s work. Honouring her talent for illustration, the new Soho sketchbook is lined with Potter’s archival sketches to inspire your next masterpiece.
This dedication to the handmade extends to our factory in Wiltshire, where the collection’s stationery is meticulously hand-crafted. Classic correspondence cards are adorned with full-colour illustrations, hand-sprayed edges, and matching tissue-lined envelopes. They’re joined by a set of ‘Thank You’ cards featuring Peter Rabbit in his signature blue jacket and woodland-print-lined envelopes, ensuring every note carries a piece of the story.