London: Macmillan and Co., 1866. John Tenniel. Second (First Published) Edition. 192pp. Duodecimo [22 cm] rebound in gilt-stamped dark red morocco with raised spine bands. Binding pristine. Includes original pale blue free endpapers, now serving as flyleaves. Calligraphic ink name dated May 1st, 1866 on original front free endpaper, reinforcements to the edges of several leaves, light to moderate foxing throughout. Very good. Item #56650
With forty-two illustrations by John Tenniel.
The first published edition, re-set from a copy of the recalled first issue. Williams, Madan, Green 46. The publication of Carroll's work appeared at a time when children's literature was produced primarily to teach moral lessons. Carroll's tale was, by contrast, wonderfully fantastical and nonsensical, and the book baffled critics at first. By the close of the 19th century, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" had become the most popular children's books in England. Two decades later, the Alice story grew to be one of the most celebrated works of fiction in the English language throughout the world.