Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in October 1917 and is the first of Potter’s two nursery rhyme compilations. Appley Dapply, a little brown mouse, goes to a cupboard to find food; other verses feature a cat invited to tea, a rabbit with a basket, and various animals in domestic situations. The rhymes are Potter’s own, illustrated with watercolors of characteristic precision and charm.
The book was compiled during World War I, when paper shortages limited publication and Potter’s own attention was increasingly devoted to her Lake District farms. It draws on sketches and verses accumulated over many years, some dating back to the 1890s.
The Compilation Period
Appley Dapply marks the beginning of Potter’s compilation phase — books assembled from earlier material rather than created whole. Potter was now a working farmer, increasingly involved in Herdwick sheep breeding and land conservation. Her creative energy went into the landscape rather than the page, and these late compilations, while charming, lack the narrative drive of the major tales.
Collecting Appley Dapply’s Nursery Rhymes
First edition (Frederick Warne & Co., London, 1917): Small format boards with color illustrations.
Approximate market values:
- Fine: $800–$2,000
- Very good: $300–$800
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation. The nursery rhyme compilations are the most affordable entry point into Potter first editions.