Books

Firsts thus. First state of Alice with grey boards, gilt titles (Lovett 204, WMGC 392), variant state of Looking-Glass with gilt titles (Lovett 205, WMGC 557). Some rubbing to decorations on spines and front boards (less so to boards), but gilt titles still quite strong (often these suffer), ink name and date (Lucy D.T. Baker, Xmas '06) on front endpaper of each volume, endpapers foxed, Looking Glass binding slightly shaken. 1904 Hard Cover. xiv, 247, [1]; xv, [1], 271, [1] pp. 8vo. Grey cloth, illustrated spines and front boards. Includes color plates by Maria Louise Kirk and 92 illustrations from the originals by John Tenniel (42 in Alice, 50 in Looking-Glass). This edition of 'Alice' is notable as the first work in color by Kirk, who went on to become a prominent figure in book illustration (though this remains her most celebrated work). It is also noteworthy that Kirk depicts Alice with dark hair (with one exception), and with a yellow dress rather than the now-customary blue. Includes: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.

"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.