CARROLL, Lewis (author). Harry ROUNTREE (illustrator). Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. London; Thomas Nelson And Sons. [1908]

Small 4to.; original bluish-grey pictorial cloth blocked in black, light blue and gilt over bevelled boards, with inlaid chromolithographed illustration in colours depicting the Red Queen and Alice against a backdrop of silhouettes trees, spine lettered on a panel of white, top edges gilt, pictorial endpapers; pp. [ix], 10-246 + [ii], printed throughout on fine coated stock; profusely illustrated with a total of 92 coloured plates and coloured text illustrations including pictorial title and frontispiece; a good copy; bright boards with minor dusting and rubbing and very small wear to forecorners, the spine soiled, ridged and rubbed, with almost total loss of gilt there, and nicking to stiffened spine ends with neat repairs, one small puncture (1mm) to upper joint; internally very good and clean throughout with one weak upper forecorner crease and a light bump to a section of the book at upper forecorner, with a neat contemporary gift inscription, “To my darling Godchild, Xmas 1908” to front free endpaper; scarce.

First edition illustrated by Rountree, being one of the most desirable and notable illustrated editions of this classic to appear when copyright expired in 1907, allowing more interpretative freedom. It is one of the most lavishly illustrated books of its period and is regarded by many critics as the best post-Tenniel version of the book.  This was Harry Rountree’s first major book commission, which cemented his reputation as one of the most gifted illustrators of the Golden Age.

Alice is depicted as a graceful young girl, characteristic of her era, while the animal figures such as the White Rabbit, the dormouse, the Mock Turtle and the caterpillar are expressive, with a whimsical energy and humour.