Thanks for the link - it did make me laugh. What a ridiculous and nonsensical theory about Peter Pan’s origins.  But seeing it’s from an evangelical Christian site explains a lot.

Apart from the fact the article is pretty illiterate with many spelling mistakes as well as factual errors (Barrie had already met the LD boys long before his divorce for instance), the author references Piers Dudgeon whose book (not a biography, let alone an “autobiography”, more a work of fiction). Dudgeon’s book not only invents events to fit his own twisted theories but has also plagiarised Andrew Birkin’s work and uses quotes out of context.  The story of Sylvia’s will that was falsified for nefarious purposes has long been debunked.

I would also add the reference to the film Pan’s Labyrinth doesn’t make sense since the original tile is The Faun’s Labyrinth as American & British distributors thought “Pan” would be better understood. The god Pan is not a faun.

He didn't. Towards the end of the war, he started a relationship with the artist Vera Willoughby, with whom he lived after demob. According to Nico (in his correspondence with Sharon Goode between 75-78):

"Peter entirely loved her, and I would say it was entirely mutual. When he was demobilised they set up house together and they lived together for a number of years. Certainly in Epping, maybe London before that. I think his first business was to do with old furniture etc. (...) I saw Vera from time to time and much liked her. The so-called break came after Michael was drowned: but it was really Vera insisting that Peter should not throw his whole life away etc. Heaven knows (I never really spoke about it) how painful the parting will have been: but Peter greatly helped save J.M.B.’s reason and from the moment he entered the book trade they obviously had an extra bit in common. Vera did not cut herself right out, in fact she illustrated many of the books that made Peter’s name as a publisher of exquisite taste if poor sales!"

After he learnt the publishing trade (with Barrie's backing and help from the publishers Walter Blaikie in Edinburgh and Hodder & Stoughton in London), he set up his own imprint in 1926.

Couldn't agree more!

Totally agree with you, Hannah!

I know the Folio Society edition and, although it is lavish, it just doesn't do it for me as I find the illustrations a little flat and unimaginative. My favourite edition is Gwynedd M. Hudson's edition from the early 1930s. It's not just the full page illustrations, but also the layout of each page, the font used, the hand-lettering, the vignettes dotted about the book. Her interpretation of the story is based on the novel, not the stage production. It also helps that I love Art Deco.

My other favourite is Edmund Blampied's 1939 edition which has some exquisite tipped-in plates (in the British edition, the US used printed illustrations).

I have uploaded the illustrations from both these editions on the database so you can have a look for yourself.

I like Bedford's work of course, but I wish the images were in full colour!

Hi Dani. Thanks for transcribing the letters between JMB and Housman - very funny! Also thanks for the other letters, all fascinating and a great contribution to this site.

The main problem with regard to Peter Pan merchandise, outside of Disney, is that there isn't just one representation of the characters. As it started as a play with different actors and costumes every few years, and the first illustrated edition coming out a few years later, there never was one depiction that made its mark (unlike say, Winnie the Pooh as illustrated by E H Shepard which established the characters from first day of publication). So the depictions changed over the years according to design and propriety trends - for instance, Peter's costume changed from the full red suit complete with jerkin, shirt, leggings to a green skimpy leafy costume, or a pseudo-Robin Hood attire.

There was some merchandise based on Frampton's statue in Kensington Gardens in the 1920s, but after the copyright went to GOSH, there wasn't so much as it wasn't a priority for them (especially after the hospital was incorporated into the NHS), apart from the Peter Pan League created in 1930 with a logo designed by EH Shepard himself. GOSH's hospital shop and mail order shop does offer some Peter Pan items but in a limited way. It is now complicated by the fact that Disney owns most of the trademarks in the characters, so other would-be merchandisers wouldn't be able to produce stuff based on a different design.

I have seen quite a few Disney things such as mugs, snow globes, etc on eBay but suspect there will be more Disney merchandise coming out when their new film is released.

That's lovely to hear! It's good to know he's not forgotten. Thanks for that.