Lot 47
  • 47

Carroll, Lewis [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Carroll, Lewis [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]
  • Alice's Adventures Under Ground. Being a facsimile of the Original MS. Book... London: Macmillan and Co., 1886
  • Paper
8vo (184 x 123mm.), FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("Presented to | H.R.H. the Duchess of Albany, | by the Author. | in grateful recollection of | three happy days, and of | two sweet children. | Aug. 6. 1889") on half-title, illustrations by the author, RARE BLUE MOROCCO GILT PRESENTATION BINDING, spine gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, upper hinge splitting, extremities slightly rubbed

Provenance

Princess Helena Frederica Augusta, Duchess of Albany (1861-1922) (inscription); Sotheby's, 15 July 1999, lot 114

Literature

Williams, Madan, Green and Crutch 194

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

Dodgson had known the Duchess of Albany's late husband, Prince Leopold (1853-1884). The Prince is thought to have had a romantic interest in Alice Liddell but nothing came of this. (Prince Leopold was later invited to become godfather to Alice's second child, Leopold Reginald).

In June 1889 Dodgson became acquainted with the Duchess and her children: Alice and Charles. Dodgson would later describe them as "charming children" (see Diaries, Vol. 8, p. 596).

This copy is an unrecorded presentation binding. In a letter to his publishers, dated 17 December 1886, Dodgson requested three special copies: one in white vellum (for Alice Liddell) and two in morocco (one for Alice's mother and the other untraceable). These were to be ready in time for Christmas 1886.

For the Duchess' letter of thanks to Dodgson for this "nice book" see The Letters, ed. Cohen, II, p. 748, n. 3.