WONDERLAND

[W. & G. Foyle (Foyles), Charing Cross Road booksellers.] Printed prospectus for ‘The Centenary Life of Lewis Carroll ' by Langford Reed, published by the firm as a ‘Trefoile Publication’.

Author: 
Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], author of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ [Langford Reed; W. & G. Foyle, booksellers (Foyles), Charing Cross Road, London; Trefoile Publications]
Carroll
Publication details: 
[1932.] ‘A Trefoile Publication from the House of - W. & G. FOYLE, Ltd., 119-125, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.1’.
£120.00
Carroll

This prospectus is a scarce item: no other copy has been traced. A 4to bifolium, with four unnumbered pages printed in red. Somewhat aged and worn, with a horizontal strip of light discoloration at the head of the cover, which has the title and author’s name surrounded by a border made up of Tenniel’s illustrations, beneath this is a quotation from Dodgson’s poetry and the price of ‘7/6 net’. Across the middle two pages is the heading ‘The Centenary “Life of Lewis Carroll”’. The text begins by explaining that Reed has made use of Dodgson’s letters to Ellen Terry.

[Lewis Carroll illustrated by Elizabeth Bury.] Two Christmas keepsake private printings: 'The Hunting of the Snark' and 'The Old Man's Comforts by Robert Southey | You Are Old, Father William & The Evidence […] by Lewis Carroll'.

Author: 
Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], author of 'Alice in Wonderland'; Elizabeth Bury, illustrator, wife of and collaborator with theatre designer John Bury (1925-2000); Robert Southey
Publication details: 
Neither with place or date. 'Snark' with presentation inscription from Bury to Christopher Fry dated Christmas 2003. Other volume with similar inscription dated Christmas 1999.
£450.00

Elizabeth Bury, illustrator and theatre designer, wife of and collaborator with John Bury (1925-2000), British theatre designer noted for his innovative work with Peter Hall, the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre (see his obituary in the Guardian, 15 November 2000). Two ring-bound 8vo Christmas keepsake private printings, both filled with full-page illustrations by Bury. Both inscribed by her to the playwright Christopher Fry. Both in good condition, with light signs of age. Uniform in layout, both with coloured covers of striking design.

[Juliana Horatia Ewing, children's author.] Autograph Letter Signed (in her view 'Not an elegant signature!'), writing in high spirits to [Marion?] regarding 'our "Play"' with 'a round chess board' (illustrated), quoting from Alice in Wonderland.

Author: 
Juliana Horatia Ewing [née Gatty] (1841-1885), Victorian children's author
Publication details: 
1 February 1880; Ecclesfield.
£320.00

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with the conclusion and signature ('Juliana Horatia Ewing. | (Not an elegant signature!)') of the letter cross-written at the head of the first page. Drawing of a 'round chess board', with explanation, on second page. An excellent intimate letter, to a family member or friend whose name is not clearly written (Marion? Marnie?). She begins by acknowledging her 'very delightful' letter, and expressing pleasure at 'the prospect of our "play" in town'.

[ Robert Scott, Master of Balliol, co-compiler of the 'Liddell and Scott' Greek-English lexicon. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Robert Scott | Master of Balliol') to Major R. G. MacGregor, on the gift of his 'Translations from the Greek Anthology'.

Author: 
Robert Scott (1811-1887), Master of Balliol College, Oxford, and co-compiler of the 'Liddell and Scott' Greek-English lexicon [ Major Robert Guthrie Macgregor (1805-1869) ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of Balliol College, Oxford. 24 October 1864.
£65.00

1p.,12mo. In good condition. Scott writes that he has 'just received, through Messrs. Parker, the volume of your Translations from the Greek Anthology which you have kindly requested me to place in the Library of Balliol College'. He thanks him on behalf of the College, and assures him that the book will be so placed, 'according to your desire'. MacGregor's tranlsation was published in London without a date by Nissen and Parker. Scott's co-compiler Henry Liddell was the father of 'Alice in Wonderland'.

[ Student Debt in Lewis Carroll's Oxford. ] 68 items relating to the debts of Vincent Hilton Biscoe, undergraduate of Christ Church, including letters from Henry Liddell and Richard James Spiers, and a mass of tradesmen's bills, letters and receipts.

Author: 
[ Vincent Hilton Biscoe of Christ Church, Oxford; Sir Richard Harington of Ridlington, 11th Baronet; Henry Liddell, Dean of Christ Church; Richard James Spiers, Mayor of Oxford 1853/4
Publication details: 
Christ Church and other locations in Oxford. Between 1857 and 1863.
£750.00

A marvellously evocative collection, giving a clear picture of the consequences of a profligate youth in the Oxford of Lewis Carroll (Biscoe would have been well-acquainted with Dodgson as a Fellow of Christ Church at his time there). Not only does the collection provide a large number of itemised tradesmen's bills, receipts and correspondence, for everything from confectionery, cigars, wine, boating, billiards and tennis, to hats, coats, shoes and the doing-up of Biscoe's rooms, but it also shows the efforts of his father, Rev.

[Letters by author and notes by distinguished recipient] A Selection from the Letters of Lewis Carroll [...] to his Child-Friends.

Author: 
Evelyn M. Hatch, one of Lewis Carroll's child-friends.
Publication details: 
Macmillan & Co., London, 1933.
£650.00

Pp.[xviii].268, 8vo, endpapers foxed, sl. hinge strain, in slightly worn and dulled dj, frontis. portrait, illus., mainly book in very good condition. ENCLOSED: A. Two Autograph Letters Signed "Evelyn M. Hatch", both to Falconer Madan, bibliographer of Lewis Carroll, [Printed heading] 17 Pembroke Gardens, W8, 19 September 1933 and 13 November 1933: Letter One (Sept.) She anticipoates the publication of her "Letters" and reveals the "howler" in the announcement ("Nine or ten" wise words, rather than "Eight or Nine", describing her vexation.

[ Girton College, Cambridge University. ] Anonymous manuscript magazine: 'Girtonica or Pearls from Oysterland. Edited by The Mocking Turtle and the Doormouse', containing a Lewis Carroll parody 'Alice in Oyster-land', and other humorous material.

Author: 
Girton College, Cambridge University [ Lewis Carroll; Alice in Wonderland ]
Publication details: 
[ Girton College, University of Cambridge. ] The first volume containing entries dating from between November 1906 and June 1909; and in the second volume between June 1909 and July 1912.
£850.00

235pp., 4to. In two uniform volumes, paginated as follows. Vol.1: ii + 135pp. Vol.2: 89pp. With an additional nine unpaginated pages. Both volumes in good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in aged and worn bindings with marbled covers and cloth spines. Written out in at least two hands. The first volume is preceded by a 'Prefatory Note', dated 30 November 1906, giving a good example of the tone of the magazine, which is written in a parody of the academic style (complete with pseudo-scholarly footnotes), and is filled with what are clearly Girton in-jokes.

[ James Lamborn Cock, music publisher. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('J Lamborn Cock | Music Publisher') to J. H. Friswell, giving an account of Thomas Moore's song 'My Heart and Lute'.

Author: 
James Lamborn Cock of London music publishers Leader & Cock [ James Hain Friswell (1825-1878), author; Thomas Moore, Irish poet; Lewis Carroll [ Charles Lutwidge Dodgson ]; Alice in Wonderland ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 63 New Bond Street ('Corner of Brooke Street'), London W. 16 February 1865.
£50.00

An interesting letter concerning a song mentioned in Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking-Glass'. 6pp., 12mo. On two bifolium letterheads. In fair condition, on aged paper. He begins by statig that he has 'taken much interest in theh discussion in the Athenaeum respecting a song of Moore's "My heart & Lute" and possessing some information relative to it' is sends it to Friswell. He proceeds to give an account of publication, with references including the music publisher Power, Sir H. R. Bishop, John Kemble, Sherwood & James, 'The London Stage' and 'The National Airs'.

[ Walt Disney, animator. ] Full-page colour cartoon strips from the English edition of 'Mickey Mouse Weekly', including 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Cinderella'.

Author: 
[ Walt Disney, animator ] [ Alice in Wonderland ]
Publication details: 
Printed for the proprietors Willbank Publications, Ltd, by Odhams Press, Ltd, London. From the issues of 29 July 1950 and 21 July, 1951.
£25.00

Six leaves extracted from the two issues, carrying six pages of coloured cartoon strips, with black and white text and illustrations on their reverses. In fair condition, lightly aged.

Autograph Letter Signed ('H G Liddell') from Henry George Liddell, grandfather of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, to 'Dear Dundas', concerning the Abbotsford Subscription. With print of the 'Ape' cartoon of Liddell from 'Vanity Fair'.

Author: 
Rev. Henry George Liddell (1787-1872), father of the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, and grandfather of Alice Pleasance Liddell, on whom Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland was based [Sir Walter Scott]
Publication details: 
Letter: Ravensworth Castle; 2 February 1833. Print: Without date or place.
£150.00

Letter: 4 pp, 12mo. Bifolium. 36 lines. Text clear and complete. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. He addresses him 'as Provisional Secretary to the Abbotsford Subscription Committee', to inform him that he has instructed his bankers in Newcastle to transmit forty pounds from his account to bankers in the Strand, 'to be added to the Abbotsford Fund - being the Amount collected in small sums between 1.£ & 1.s. by Mrs. Liddell in the town of Alnwick & vicinity'. She will forward a book of subscribers' names to the Committee.

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