The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1911 and is one of Potter’s less well-known tales — a story about a squirrel who is wrongly suspected of stealing nuts from his neighbors and forced down a hollow tree trunk by an angry mob. He is befriended by a chipmunk named Chippy Hackee, who lives inside the tree with his wife. The story involves mistaken identity, mob justice, and eventual vindication.
The inclusion of a chipmunk (a North American species not found in Britain) was a deliberate nod to Potter’s American readership, which had become a significant portion of her market. The illustrations of autumn woodland are among her most atmospheric.
The American Market
By 1911, Potter’s books sold more copies in America than in Britain. The chipmunk was her acknowledgement of this audience — the only time she introduced a non-British species as a character. The experiment was not entirely successful; American readers did not particularly need the nod, and British readers found the chipmunk puzzling. Potter never repeated the strategy.
Collecting The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes
First edition (Frederick Warne & Co., London, 1911): Gray-green boards with mounted color illustration.
Approximate market values:
- Fine: $1,000–$3,000
- Very good: $400–$1,000
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation. As a less well-known title, it lacks the premium of the major tales but benefits from the strength of the Potter market overall.