Books

Carroll, Lewis (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. 14 full page color illustrations and two-color title pages by John R. Neill. Chicago: The Reilly & Britton Company, (1908). 58pp plus 3pp of ads at rear. First Printing, first binding, first issue. Original publisher's red cloth, decorated in dark green and black, with an illustration of Alice and The White Rabbit in a pasted circular onlay. NEAR FINE copy with excellent eye appeal of this rather scarce and highly desirable edition, illustrated by the same artist who created the original illustrations for THE WIZARD OF OZ. Previous owner's neat 1909 signature, extremities with just a touch of rub. Complete in two stories, both abridged, featuring portions of ALICES?S ADVENTURES and THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (which has an emphasis on ? "Humpty Dumpty." In the first tale, illustrator John R. Neill has made Alice a blonde, but switched her to a brunette Alice for Through The Looking Glass. An odd Alice and altogether charming. Lovett & Lovett, 476.

"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.