The Velveteen Rabbit
The Velveteen Rabbit is a children's story by Margery Williams, illustrated by William Nicholson, first published as a book in 1922 by Heinemann in London, simultaneously with Doran in America. It tells of a toy rabbit made real by a child's love, and first appeared in Harper's Bazaar in 1921.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Heinemann, 1922
- First published
- William Heinemann (simultaneous with George H. Doran in America), London, 1922
- First UK edition
- William Heinemann, 1922
The first edition of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams was published in London by Heinemann in 1922. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Heinemann1922 Hardback I own The Velveteen Rabbit; Or, How Toys Become Real, Heinemann 1922 Log in to want this
Later and other editions
- Doubleday1900 Hardback I own The Velveteen Rabbit, Or, How Toys Become Real, Doubleday 1900 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
In print
- Editions recorded
- 168 on Open Library, 129 in English
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
CollectorsNot sure which edition you have, or want to tell other collectors about your copy?
Ask a question
Write a review
Read it or own it? Share what The Velveteen Rabbit is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Velveteen Rabbit?
The first edition of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams was published in London by Heinemann in 1922.
How many editions of The Velveteen Rabbit are there?
We track 2 editions of The Velveteen Rabbit, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Where these facts come from
- The Velveteen Rabbit, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Velveteen Rabbit, Bauman Rare Books (baumanrarebooks.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 21 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.