A tatty Beatrix Potter book is going under the hammer for £2,000 – even though it’s damaged.
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck book has been signed by the late children’s author and illustrator.
Her signature is on the front page.
READ MORE: Dr Who film poster sells for over £3,500 at auction despite being creased and ripped
READ MORE: G-no-me way! Two broken garden gnomes sell for £1,000 at auction
The hardback was first published in 1908.
But this book is a later re-print.
The front cover is green and features an illustration of the beloved character, Jemima Puddle-Duck in a bonnet and shawl.
However, the book’s spine is damaged.
The top of it is tattered and chipped.
It is hanging off in the top corner – revealing dirty-looking pages.
Despite the shocking condition, the book is expected to fetch £2,000 at an auction.
It is going under the hammer at Ewbanks in Woking, Berkshire.
The previous owner was given the autographed book as a child by a schoolteacher friend of her parents.
The teacher had been to an event in Liverpool in 1937 where this book was signed in person for her by Beatrix Potter.
The condition report reads: “Some light marks to boards, chipped to head of spine affecting the T of The.
”Very light rubbing to tail of spine and corners, foxing to endpapers and light foxing to edges.
”Further occasional foxing to pages, tightly bound, a few joints split, overall a clean copy with a strong signature.”
Beatrix Potter died in 1943 – leaving most of her properties to The National Trust.
Earlier this year, the author was accused of ‘cultural appropriation’ by academic Dr Emily Zobel Marshall.
Dr Marshall claims that the author’s “quintessentially English” tales of Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jemima Puddle-Duck, were ‘more than just inspired’ by the Brer Rabbit stories told by slaves in the 1800s
READ MORE: Martin Luther King ‘final’ autograph sells for £22,900 at auction
