Edition: First Edition
Illustrated By: Lewis Carroll
Published By: Macmillan And Co.
Publication Date: 1886
St Mary's Books are incredibly proud to present this 1886 First Edition of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures Underground", signed and inscribed by Alice Hargreaves, or the real-life inspiration and namesake for "Alice". Bound in the publishers' original bright and unblemished red cloth with gold gilt lettering and decorations, this hardback book contains i-viii and 91 bright, clean and readable pages, meaning this copy is in near-fine condition. The story goes, that whilst on a boating trip, Lewis Carroll told a tale of an inquisitive little girl who fell down a rabbit hole to entertain the Liddell children - sisters, Lorina, Alice, and Edith. At Alice's request, Carroll wrote down and illustrated his tale - a facsimile of which can be found within the pages of this book. Alice Liddell, later Hargreaves, was not generally opposed to inscribing later printings of "Wonderland" - but in more than 40 years, we have never seen nor found a single copy of her inscribing a copy of her facsimile manuscript of "Underground", let alone a first edition, making this an incredibly scarce item to add to any collection. This copy is stated to have always been within the Whitcomb family, and has until recently never been for sale. The Whitcomb's were an incredibly wealthy American family who travelled extensively to Europe and England, where it is possible they could have met Alice Hargreaves and asked her to inscribe a copy to David Whitcomb Jr. David Whitcomb Jr. then married Emily Whitcomb, who received many valuable assets in their later divorce, including this copy of "Underground". David and Emily's son, James H. Whitcomb, went on to marry Susan Kellogg, who remained close friends with her mother-in-law, Emily Whitcomb. Susan visited Emily on many occasions, and it was on one such occasion that Emily gifted her this copy of "Underground". It is from Susan Kellogg Whitcomb that this book therefore came on the market, and now is in the possession of St Mary's Books. "Alice's Adventures Underground" is looking for a new home where it will be similarly enjoyed and appreciated.
Book Condition: Near Fine
Author: Lewis Carroll
Binding: Hardback
Ref: 124059
Price £35000.00
