Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

by CARROLL, Lewis - ROUNTREE, Harry.

$1,099 · Offered by Biblio

London: Thomas Nelson and Sons,, [1908]. First Rountree edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the artist on the half-title in black ink, "Nov. 12 - 09. To Pater & Mater, with best love. Harry". Stephen Gilbert Rountree (1851-1918) married Julia Bartley (1851-1930) in 1874. Harry was one of their seven children. Stephen Rountree would eventually become the manager of Auckland Savings Bank in New Zealand. Harry Rountree (1878-1950) "became known for his drawings of animals, which he drew with a keen eye for humorous detail" (Peppin & Micklethwait, p. 264). His "métier was always comic animals and books for children" (Houfe, p. 439). When the copyright on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ran out in 1907 numerous "London publishers… foresaw the coming opportunity… and contemplated the possibility of new illustrations" (Williams, Madan, Green and Crutch, p. 236). Many contemporary reviewers attacked new illustrations, preferring Tenniel's original drawings. Rountree, however, fared well. The Graphic, for example, found his version "delightfully and most humorously conceived" (5 December 1908, p. 718). Rountree's edition remained in print for over four decades. Small quarto. Frontispiece and colour illustrations throughout by Harry Rountree. Together with gelatine silver photograph of the illustrator, 112 x 157 mm, laid down to wooden board, 185 x 229 mm. Original light yellow cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, front cover lettered in gilt with design in colours, picto

• Year: 1908
• Binding: hardcover

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