Beatrix Potter’s 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' is one of the best-selling children's books of all time, but it almost never saw the light of day. After being rejected by at least six publishers, Potter decided to self-publish 250 copies in 1901 for family and friends. This original version featured black-and-white illustrations. The book was so well-received that Frederick Warne & Co., who had previously rejected it, reconsidered and published a color version in 1902. Potter was also a pioneer in merchandising; she personally designed and patented a Peter Rabbit doll in 1903, making Peter the oldest licensed literary character. Beyond her literary success, Potter was a skilled natural scientist and used her royalties to purchase vast amounts of land in the Lake District, which she eventually donated to the National Trust, preserving the English countryside that inspired her art.