Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. By Lewis Carroll. With Forty-Two Illustrations by John Tenniel. London: Macmillan & Co, 1866. [Together with] Through the Looking-Glass And What Alice Found There. By Lewis Carroll. With Fifty Illustrations by John Tenniel. London: Macmillan & Co, 1872, 8vos.
A STUNNING SET OF NEAR FINE FIRST EDITIONS OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS IN THEIR ORIGINAL CLOTH BINDINGS.
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The Alice in Wonderland copy is the earliest issue with pp.30 correctly numbered and with the very rare original earlier light blue endpapers (rather than the more usual dark green). There is a purchase note to the ffep dated 1865 making it one of the very earliest of the first print run to be purchased - it was likely released in December 1865, and certainly no earlier than November 18th. Only the very earliest of the print run had the early blue endpapers. The 'S' in the contents leaf is inverted as per the first issue, though some suggest this does not have issue priority. The Through the Looking Glass volume is also the first issue with the misspelling of "wade" on pp.21.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a notoriously difficult book to find in early edition form with very few copies printed. This is one of the first two (or three) thousand copies of this book ever printed. Using the data from Lewis Carroll's bibliography by Roger Lancelyn Green and Macmillan's Bibliographical Catalogue from 1891, we find that the original 1865 edition was printed with 2,000 copies, for which almost no copies survive in private hands, the last selling for $2.9 million at Sotheby's and is generally considered unobtainable. That edition was never actually published and the fact that a few copies exist is more by chance than original intent and thus the 1866 first published edition is generally regarded as the first edition.
Both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were originally published in notoriously fragile red cloth and examples in original condition are very rare indeed and if encountered, are usually in very poor condition. Copies in near fine to fine condition are all but unheard of, so these two copies really are remarkable survivors.
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Provenance:
Both books were purchased by the same original owner and have likely been kept together since 1871. The Alice book was purchased by H.M. Archer in Oxford in 1865 (ink inscription to half title), and therefore is one of the very earliest of the first printings to be purchased, as it was released at the very earliest on the 18th of November 1865, though likely later in December. What is quite incredible is we know the book shop it was originally purchased from, Wheeler & Day, 106 High St, Oxford, with their blindstamp on the front free endpaper.
The Through the Looking Glass copy was purchased by F. Wilberforce Bird in 1871, most probably at the same shop, and is therefore also one of the very earliest of the first printings. It was subsequently gifted to H.M. Archer, and thus united with the first edition of Alice. Subsequently kept together by descent until the present day, one of the only sets of the two true first editions that can claim such provenance.
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Alice Size: 135 x 197 mm (approx.)
TtLG Size: 131 x 190 mm (approx.)
Case Size: 155 x 220 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Alice:
[(1), h.t., frontis, t.p., 4pp., contents leaf, 192pp., (1)]
(i.e. a⁴, b², B–N⁸)
Collated as complete. Matches the collation of the British Museum copy for the first issue as recorded in Green, 44. This includes the two thin lines to pp.190. Original publisher's fragile red cloth binding, recased, all edges gilt, hinges reinforced with matching paper, original endpapers, original binder's label to rear pastedown of Burn & Co. Corners a little bumped, cloth slightly rubbed, but overall bright and very attractive, the binding secure, without shelf lean. Externally very attractive indeed, near fine. Binding not cocked. No attached bookplates. Blindstamp to ffep of original bookstore this was retailed and ink ownership inscription dated 1865 to half title, as described under provenance, above. Some very minor foxing internally, mostly to half title and title but present to a few leaves throughout, however generally internally very clean. The full text is legible without any loss. Small closed tear to fore-edge of pp.5-6 and one corner creased on pp.81-82, else internally excellent. Tissue guard between frontis and title, probably original. A VG+ to near fine copy overall, one of the greatest copies of the few remaining extant.
Through the Looking Glass:
[(1), h.t., frontis, t.p., 4pp., contents leaf, 224pp., 1ff (advertisements), 1ff, (1)]
Collated as complete, matches all correct collations for the first edition, no lacking leaves or pages. Includes the very rare first state advertisement leaf, usually lacking. Tissue guard between frontis and title, likely original. Original publisher's fragile red cloth binding, very bright and attractive, mild discolouration as typical, recased, all edges gilt, hinges strengthened, small stain to head of front board covering gilt, else externally a near fine copy, very attractive, one of the best examples one can hope to obtain. No attached bookplates, original dark blue endpapers. Gift inscription to head of half title dated 1871 as described under provenance, above. Internally, some mild toning in places and very light foxing, but generally exceptionally bright and clean throughout. Internally a near fine copy, perhaps just crossing the threshold of fine as it is remarkably bright and clean internally. A phenomenal copy, again, one of the greatest copies of the few remaining extant.
The bespoke case is of clever construction, internally separating the Alice and Looking Glass books and adjusting for their slightly differing sizes with a flap coming down to close them in and protect them further. The soft felt for the compartments holding the two books are heavily foxed, fortunately this has not affected the books. It would be best for this felt to be replaced. The case is otherwise rubbed with some scratches. It is circa the early to mid 20th century, and so is also further evidence that these two copies have remained together through their history.
[Williams, Madan & Green, 46, and 84].
