Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) / John Tenniel (Illust.)

Published by Macmillan and Co. 1867 [1866], London, 1867

Newly bound in full red morocco by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath. Single gilt fillet border to boards, gilt blocked White Rabbit to front board. Spine with five raised bands, compartments containing gilt rabbit and playing cards, date to foot of spine. Gilt roll to board edges, turn-ins ornately decorated in gilt. Marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Half title page with two inscriptions: 'E.A. Haddow, Malvern 1866' and 'to Clara Cranford 1873'. Light foxing to half title page, intermittent light stain to lower margin (including 3 leaves with a slight pink tinge to a small area on lower edge.) Small stain and very slight loss to lower margin of p122-123. A few light marks to text. The true first edition of 2000 copies, printed by Oxford University Press in July 1865, was famously withdrawn before publication by Dodgson because Tenniel was unhappy with the print quality of his illustrations. Only 23 copies are known to survive, commanding prices well in excess of a million pounds. A second edition of 2000 copies was printed by Richard Clay, this was the first published edition, issued in November 1865, although dated 1866. Our example is the 5th thousand (i.e. third edition), the first to state the 'thousand' number on the title page and the second edition to appear on the market. This edition states 1867 on the title page but was printed in late 1866 and issued prior to Christmas of that year. There is disagreement on the print run of this edition, Hahn and Muir both state 3000 copies, however the Lewis Carroll Society notes that the current consensus is 1000 copies (i.e. 5th thousand includes the 2000 recalled copies). Nobody knows for sure, but the following eight printings, up to the end of 1868, were all runs of 1000 copies, and in an 1866 letter to his publisher Dodgson wrote: 'Your magnificent idea of printing 3000 more copies alarms me a little: I should have thought 1000 a large enough venture.' A very early example of this timeless children's classic, in a binding of the very highest order. Overall condition is Very Good. Size: 5.25 x 7.5 inches (13 x 19 cm). Hardback. Printed pages: 8vo. 192 5th Thousand (i.e. 3rd edition, but 2nd published edition). Seller Inventory # 1218E234

Bibliographic Details

Title: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Publisher: Macmillan and Co. 1867 [1866], London
Publication Date: 1867
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good