Fortune for Beatrix Potter's mystery bunny

THIS mystery Beatrix Potter illustration is expected to fetch up to £15,000 at auction next month.

The Beatrix Potter watercolour The Beatrix Potter watercolour

The watercolour – of a girl rabbit with a pink ribbon tied daintily around her neck – has left experts puzzled.

For while the painting is highly-finished, its subject never appeared in any of the author’s rabbit tales.

Potter’s children’s stories of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny and The Floppy Bunnies have sold millions since they were first published at the turn of the century.

Bonhams of London said the watercolour, which has been in a private collection for 50 years, has never been under the hammer before.

Another of the auctioneer’s lots is a letter from the author in which she complains about the commercialisation of Peter Rabbit.

Potter had been sent some figures of her characters by friends Elizabeth and Edith Todhunter.

She was delighted with them, but added: “There is nothing more to be made of Peter commercially.

“There have been dolls, china, slippers etc. for years – they bring in royalties, but somehow I never care for any of them.”

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