Books

No date; circa 1920. First two editions with 48 illustrations; this being an early edition following these. Large 7 1/2" x 10" x 1 3/4" design. Charming pictorial boards, dark green cloth spine wrap and black spine titles, moderate shelf wear, bow. Front boards depicts Alice at table with hare and mad hatter gesticulating at her. Back board depicts bright yellow-orange stream of rays around 'The Sunshine Series'. Thick heavy stock leaves, near fine, clean; no writing. Moderate fox to exterior text block. Rare original pictorial wrapper, moderate edge wear, rub, toning; unclipped 3/6, protected in acid-free clear sleeve. Front panel mirrors front board imagery, back panel w/red rays; front and back flap list available titles in The Sunshine Series and Wonder Books from Ward, Lock & Co. Sharp near very good illustrated rarity in original wrapper. This classic edition is charmingly illustrated w/color plates by Edwardian artist, Margaret Tarrant, regarded as one of the finest illustrators of children's books. Twenty-four colour plates on smooth coated paper enchant the viewer throughout. Margaret Tarrant was a prolific children's book illustrator and author best known for her imagery applied to myths and fables such as Alice in Wonderland and Andersen's fairy tales. Tarrant's artistic style is heavily fairy-tale orientated and often features motifs of mythical animals and beings. Her soft dreamy illustrations are exemplified in this volume and portray the extent of her talent. Lewis Carroll's classic begins on a boring summer afternoon when the bright and inquisitive Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit-hole. At the bottom, she finds herself immersed in a bizarre world full of strange creatures and bizarre goings-on. She tries pills and potions, and attends a very strange tea party and croquet match. An immensely witty mix of satire, puzzles, and drama and one of literature's most astute depictions of the experience of childhood. Made in England. Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London. 175 pages. Insured post. Size: 4to - over 9�" - 12" tall.

"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.