Books

London:: Macmillan and Co., 1866. 2nd Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. TENNIEL John 1820-1914. HOLIDAY Harry 1839-1927.. A SUPERB, UNIFORMLY-BOUND SET OF THE FIRST EDITIONS OF DODGSON'S MOST CELEBRATED BOOKS. Together, 3 works in 3 volumes, all uniformly bound in early 20th-century red calf gilt, all edges gilt, stamp-signed by Zaehnsdorf, original cloth bound in at the end of each work, armorial bookplate to fpds (Jean S & A Watson Armour III). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. London: Macmillan and Co., 1866 [1865]. 8vo. Half-title, with 42 illustrations by John Tenniel, 184*119 mm, a.e.g. SECOND EDITION (i.e. FIRST AUTHORIZED EDITION), or the first published English edition, earliest state with the inverted S in the last line of the Contents page. For this new edition published November 1865 (but dated 1866 for the Christmas market) the book was re-set by the printer Richard Clay from a copy of the suppressed 1865 Alice, forming the basis for all…

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" follows the escapades of a curious young girl named Alice, who, while bored on a riverbank, spots a white rabbit in a waistcoat. She follows it down a rabbit hole and finds herself in a whimsical world. Throughout her journey, Alice encounters peculiar characters like the hookah-smoking Caterpillar, the grinning Cheshire Cat, and the Mad Hatter hosting a nonsensical tea party. She experiences a series of transformations, shrinking and growing, as she navigates through the bizarre landscapes and meets creatures like the March Hare and the Dormouse. The Queen of Hearts, with her penchant for ordering beheadings, adds a touch of absurdity to the already surreal environment. Alice grapples with the nonsensical rules of Wonderland, engaging in peculiar conversations that highlight the absurd logic of this fantastical realm. As she tries to find her way home, she faces challenges, solves riddles, and discovers that the reality of Wonderland often defies logic. Ultimately, Alice's adventures culminate in her realizing that the world she encountered was a dream. She wakes up on the riverbank, pondering the strange and wonderful events she experienced in Wonderland, leaving readers with a blend of imagination, whimsy, and thought-provoking absurdity. Carroll's tale remains a classic exploration of childhood, curiosity, and the unpredictable nature of dreams.