Books

London: Macmillan, 1872. Early edition. Fine. Twenty-Ninth Thousand printed on the title page. Small quarto (7 x 4 5/8 inches; 178 x 117 mm.). [xii], [1]-192 pp. Wood engraved frontispiece with original tissue-guard, numerous wood-engraved text illustrations. A few very light marginal smudges. Bound ca. 1910 by Kelliegram of London, stamp-signed in gilt on rear turn-in. Full hunter green crushed levant morocco, the covers beautifully decorated with multi colored leather inlays depicting ten different Alice characters. The front cover with a large central inlay of the Mad Hatter, surrounded by Father William's Son, the Dodo, the Mock Turtle and the Duchess, all within a gilt-stamped frame. The rear cover similarly decorated with a large central inlay of the White Rabbit, surrounded by the Mouse, the Duck, the Eaglet and the Cheshire Cat, all within a gilt-stamped frame. Spine with five raised bands decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments, gilt ruled board edges and…

"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.