Books

Attractively bound in pebbled green cloth stamped brightly in gilt on the front and rear boards and on the spine. With 3 bright gold rectangular rules to the edges of the front and rear boards which feature gilded cameos of Alice holding a supine pig on the front boards; and the Cheshire Cat on the rear boards; both are encircled by three concentric gilt circles. Rubbing to the extremities and along the spine. With top corners bumped and worn. Clean chocolate endpapers and tight hinges. With all 42 wonderful black and white illustrations by John Tenniel throughout. A vintage, collectible copy with the classic illustrations by Tenniel. Re: The Illustrations The manuscript was illustrated by Carroll himself who added 37 illustrations printed in a facsimile edition in 1887.[21] John Tenniel provided 42 wood-engraved illustrations for the published version of the book.[63] The first print run was destroyed (or sold to the US[64]) at Carroll's request because he was dissatisfied with the quality. There are only 22 known first edition copies in existence.[63] The book was reprinted and published in 1866.[21] Tenniel's detailed black-and-white drawings remain the definitive depiction of the characters.[65] Tenniel s illustrations of Alice do not portray the real Alice Liddell,[42] who had dark hair and a short fringe. Alice has provided a challenge for other illustrators, including those of 1907 by Charles Pears and the full series of colour plates and line-drawings by Harry Rountree published in the (inter-War) Children's Press (Glasgow) edition. Other significant illustrators include: Arthur Rackham (1907), Willy Pogany (1929), Mervyn Peake (1946), Ralph Steadman (1967), Salvador Dal� (1969), Graham Overden (1969), Max Ernst (1970), Peter Blake (1970), Tove Jansson (1977), Anthony Browne (1988), Helen Oxenbury (1999),[66] and Lisbeth Zwerger (1999). (Wikipedia) The second edition with a title page date of 1870 and "Cambridge: Press of John Wilson and Son." On the undated copyright page.

"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.