Beschreibung:

DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge ('Lewis Carroll', 1832-1898). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . London: Macmillan & Co., 1866. [ With, bound in :] DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge ('Lewis Carroll', 1832-1898). Autograph letter signed (‘Charles L. Dodgson’) to [Richard St John] Tyrwhitt, n.p., n.d. Two pages, bifolium. The second (first published) edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , in the first state with an inverted ‘S’ on the last line of the contents page. This copy inscribed by the author to his friend Richard St John Tyrwhitt in the month before publication, and with a letter to Tyrwhitt bound in. ‘Tyrwhitt was a student at Christ Church and then Vicar of St. Mary Magdalene in Oxford from 1858. He and Dodgson breakfasted, dined and walked together often, discussing religion, art and literature. Tyrwhitt grew enthusiastic about Dodgson’s photography, brought his etchings to be photographed, and posed for portraits. For his part, Dodgson admired Tyrwhitt’s verses and published some of them … [He] enjoyed hearing Tyrwhitt talk about his friend John Ruskin’ (Cohen, Letters , I, p.90). Copies of the second edition of Alice were received by Dodgson in November 1865, a number of which were immediately redistributed to friends and as replacements for the unsatisfactory first edition. In a blank page in his diary, Dodgson begins a list of 67 recipients of presentation copies of this new edition. Tyrwhitt appears 54th on the list. It is not known for certain whether Tyrwhitt was previously presented with the first edition, but the letter included in this volume suggests this as a distinct possibility: ‘If Mrs Tyrwhitt & yourself will also accept of the accompanying book, you will give me much pleasure – but I am painfully conscious that you may possibly already possess it – if so, I intreat you will not stand upon ceremony but return it with a note…’. Presentation copies of this edition are extremely rare, the present copy especially so as Dodgson includes the partial date ‘Nov. 1865’ in the inscription – the majority of known inscribed copies are undated. Octavo (190 x 125mm). Half-title, frontispiece and 41 further illustrations from the woodcuts by Dalziel after John Tenniel (scattered soiling, marginal chips and tears, some repaired, 2 leaves strengthened at fore-edge). Original red cloth, gilt-stamped, spine gilt-lettered, edges gilt (rubbed, rebacked preserving the original spine).