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First German language edition, first impression, presentation copy, inscribed by the author "Margaret Evelyn Hardy, from the Author" on the half-title. The first foreign language translation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published in February 1869 before a French translation of August 1869. The original English text was first published in 1866. Williams, Madan, Green, and Crutch praise the illustrations in this edition and note "the reproductions of the woodcuts in this German edition are excellent, and bear comparison with those in any other issue of Alice in Wonderland". The contents listing exactly copied the pagination of the English edition so that for every chapter except the first, the page numbers are incorrect. Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook, (1814-1906) became known to Carroll's Oxford circle in 1865 when he was nominated to stand in the Oxford University constituency. There were three candidates: William Gladstone, William Heathcote and Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy. Carroll records signing a voting paper in his diary for 10 July and Jackson's Oxford Journal for 15 July notes that "Dr Dodson [sic], of Christ Church" voted for Gladstone. The final result was Heathcote 1331, Gathorne-Hardy 767, and Gladstone 735 votes. The election prompted Carroll to write his Dynamics of a Particle (1865) comprising a satirical pamphlet masquerading as a mathematical treatise in which chapter two refers to the contest between Gathorne-Hardy and Gladstone. The politician was responsible for Carroll's admittance to the public area of the House of Commons on 8 April 1867, and when Gathorne-Hardy visited Oriel College, Oxford, Carroll invited him to Christ Church to have his photograph taken. Carroll noted in his diary on 10 June 1867 "He had not long to spare, but I succeeded in taking two pictures of him, neither of them, I fear, particularly successful". Gathorne-Hardy had married Jane Orr in 1838 and they were to have four sons and five daughters. On 24 June 1867 the politician wrote to Carroll stating "my little girl's names are Margaret Evelyn, and I am sure she would dearly treasure Alice in English and French, but has no right to tax you for both". At the time of writing, there were no foreign language translations. A correspondence between the two men commenced and, in time, Carroll certainly sent both English and French editions of Alice. This inscription in an unrequested German translation is previously unknown (unrecorded by Carlson and Eger). Another hand other than Carroll's has added the date of 1871. Carroll continued to send copies of his books to Margaret: she also received an inscribed copy of Through the Looking-Glass dated Christmas 1871 and a copy of The Hunting of the Snark with an inscription dated 24 April 1876. Carroll's diary entry for 12 September 1877 records a visit by the author to the Hardy family to "meet Evelyn again (she is now 'Miss Evelyn')" when he "walked on the Parade with Mrs. Hardy and Misses K. and E." READ MORE Octavo. Original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, pictorial roundels and triple-line borders to covers in gilt, brown coated endpapers, binder's label ("Burn & Co") to rear pastedown, all edges gilt. Frontispiece and 42 illustrations by John Tenniel. Some fading and bubbling to covers, spine slightly soiled, corners slightly bumped, minor restoration to spine and hinges, some browning and foxing throughout; a very good copy. Williams, Madan, Green, and Crutch 71; Carlson and Eger, Dodgson at Auction 1893-1999, 1999.

"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.