Books

CARROLL, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Illustrated in colour by A.E. Jackson. NY: George H. Doran [1914]. 8vo, 512pp (18 printed pages). Yellow cloth pictorially stamped in black. Pictorial endpapers; 16 color plates. Spine ends a tad rubbed, two tiny tears at top and bottom of spine, front hinge starting (but still strong), a few ink spots to top edge of sheets (not affecting internal pages), else a clean, tight copy. Salesman's Sample Dummy of the first US edition, featuring the first printed signature – including title, contents, plate listing, and the start of the first chapter – followed by all 16 of the color plates, each hand-mounted on the appropriate page with printed caption. A surprisingly bright copy of A.E. Jackson's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland produced for salesman to show booksellers the vibrant color plates of this edition to elicit orders. Rare, as only a handful of copies like this would have ever been produced.

"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.