Two volumes, both first published editions. Author's presentation copy of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' inscribed to Richard Doyle on the half-title page, "R. Doyle, Esq. from C. Dodgson". Later binding of full red levant, spines lettered and with motifs in gilt, raised bands, gilt edges, and marbled endpapers. Cloth spines and covers of the original bindings bound in to the rear of each volume. Frontispiece, with tissue guard to each volume and illustrations to the text throughout, all by John Tenniel. A very good set. Short repaired tear to the half title of the first volume, occasional foxing.

An exceptional presentation copy of Alice in Wonderland, inscribed to the illustrator Richard Doyle, who Dodgson considered as the illustrator of 'Through the Looking Glass' after Tenniel had turned down the opportunity.
Dodgson used the blank pages of one of his diaries to record the names of people to receive a presentation copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. In one of these lists, under the heading "Presentation Copies of Alice", Doyle appears in the company of Tennyson, Tenniel and Tauchnitz (Diaries, p. 25). Wakeling notes that most of the inscribed copies of Alice "have the inscription '...from the Author' and rarely contain a date" (Diaries, p. 18).
With reference to illustrations, Dodgson "had proved so exact, and exacting, as a critic of the way his requirements were carried out, that Tenniel, when approached about the illustrations for Through the Looking-Glass, declared he was too busy" (Williams, Madan, Green, Crutch, p. 63). Dodgson appealed to Tenniel who suggested Richard Doyle. Accordingly, Dodgson wrote to him on 22 January 1867.
The initial approach was apparently promising for Dodgson recorded in his diary that, on 24 January 1867 he "called on Doyle, and his discussed the idea of his illustrating [Through the Looking-Glass]. He seems willing to undertake it, but not certain that he could get them done for next Xmas. We left the matter unsettled for the present" (Diaries, p. 192). Nothing would, eventually, result from this and "Tenniel was approached again, with the result that, in the end, he once more shouldered the task" (Williams, Madan, Green, Crutch, p. 63).
Presentation copies of the 1866 of Alice appear very seldom in commerce. The last 50 years has seen just three copies sold at auction. Copies where Dodgson signs with his own name, rather than "from the author" are scarcer still.

PROVENANCE: Richard Doyle (1824-1883), Victorian illustrator, authorial presentation inscription; Sothebys London, 1-2 November 1937, lot 63; Puttick And Simpson, 28th July 1938, lot 89, "Sold to Marks, £24"; Max Charles Gaines (1894-1947), co-publisher of All-American Publications, a pioneering figure in the creation of the modern comic book, his bookplate to the verso of the front free endpaper.

Stock ID: 44665