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31Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, First Edition, First Issue. Presentation cop

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:40,000.00 USD Estimated At:40,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, First Edition, First Issue.  Presentation cop
31. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, First Edition, First Issue. Presentation copy with two fine original pencil drawings by John Tenniel of Alice and Humpty Dumpty. Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge (Lewis Carroll) and John Tenniel. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. With Fifty Illustrations by John Tenniel. London: Macmillan and Co., 1872. Octavo. First Edition, first issue, with misprint “wade” for “wabe” on page 21. Original red cloth with gilt ruled boards, gilt vignette of Red Queen on front and White Queen on back, spine lettered in gilt, all edges gilt. With two very fine and detailed original pencil drawings on the half-title, each signed with Tenniel’s monogram, along with his presentation inscription, “Ever yours, JT.” Later gift inscription in ink also on half title, “Mary Memess with her brother’s love.” Presumably presented to Ms. Memess’ brother, who in turn, presented it to his sister. Minor rubbing and soiling to spine with tiny chips at heel. Inner hinges expertly repaired. One of only three known copies of Through the Looking-Glass extra-illustrated by Tenniel, of a total of five Alice books that he similarly illustrated with original drawings (none of which have the present drawings). The drawings are both reverse images of the printed versions: the drawing of Humpty-Dumpty is a detail of “You may shake hands!” (p. 118), and Alice with the Fawn (p. 63). According to Justin Schiller, this category of Tenniel drawing was “done inside printed books at the time the artist inscribed them, either as gifts or on commission” [Schiller, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: An 1865 printing re-described, p. 62]. Binding rubbed, slightly shaken. Chemised within a ¼ morocco slipcase. $40,000 – $60,000