Books

Published by William Heinemann, 1907. 1st edition.. Hardback. Good. Illustrated by Rackham, Arthur. Almost very good condition with no wrapper. With a Proem by Austin Dobson. Limited edition of eleven hundred and thirty copies, of which 1100 were for sale and the remaining 30 copies were reserved for presentation. Large format. White cloth, gilt titles and vignette to front. Brown and white pictorial endpapers. 13 tipped in colour plates plus b/w illustrations. xi and 161 numbered pages. Spine and corners bumped and worn, fraying to cloth at top and tail of spine and a small section of the front edge starting to split (but hasn't yet). Spine is grubby/sunned with grubby marks to covers are well (see photos). Endpapers are browned. Rear joint is cracked (possibly very neatly repaired). There is a light crease to one of the plates, all others are present and in fine condition. Light page browning and fingering to contents and some light foxing. A small brown spot affects the margins…

"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.

The true first editions can be identified by the binding, which is red cloth with a gilt stamped illustration on the cover and spine, gilt edges, and the date 1865 on the title page. Additionally, certain textual misprints or specific illustrations by John Tenniel can also indicate a first edition. In 1866, a USA version (First edition, second issue) was printed by D. APPLETON & CO, 445, BROADWAY which was made up using the actual sheets from the true first edition. This is known as the Appleton Alice version. An un-restored version is extremely rare.