CARROLL, RHYME? AND REASON?, 1883, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR (1 VOL.)

8vo (181 x 121mm.), FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ("Lady Maud Wolmer | with the sincere regards | of the Author. | Feb. 9/84") on half-title, illustrations after Arthur B. Frost and Henry Holliday, ORIGINAL PRESENTATION VELLUM BINDING GILT, gilt edges, occasional soiling, lacking tissue-guard to frontispiece, upper hinge splitting at foot, lower hinge split, covers slightly bowed

Lady Maud Wolmer (presentation inscription); Bloomsbury, 15 December 1994, lot 395; Christie's South Kensington, "The Nicholas Falletta Collection of Lewis Carroll Books and Manuscripts", 30 November 2005, lot 89

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."

AN INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION OF CARROLL'S VOLUME OF POEMS IN THE RARE PRESENTATION VELLUM BINDING. It is thought there were a small number of vellum copies (around five) and this is the only copy recorded by ABPC in the last 40 years. Beatrix Maud Wolmer (née Cecil) (1858-1950) was one of eight children of the Third Marquess and Earl of Salisbury, whose family seat was Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. Dodgson became a regular visitor and photographed the family. In 1871 after one visit Carroll confided in his diary that "the family are really delightful, perfectly at their ease, and kindness itself" and that his stay had been "one of the very pleasantest visits I have ever spent". Dodgson remained in contact with Maud after her marriage in 1883 to William Waldegrave Palmer, Viscount Wolmer.