Description

PRESENTATION ASSOCIATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY LEWIS CARROLL, AND WITH REVISIONS IN HIS HAND

CARROLL, Lewis. Phantasmagoria and Other Poems. London: MacMillan, 1869. Octavo, original gilt-stamped blue cloth, all edges gilt. Housed in custom red cloth clamshell box.

First edition, first state, presentation association copy inscribed in the month of publication by Lewis Carroll, on the half title: “the Honble. G. Denman, with the Author’s kind regards. Jan 1869.” With five-word textual revision in Carroll’s hand on page 56.

A collection of Carroll’s poetry, both whimsical and serious, many poems appearing here for the first time. On page 56, near the conclusion of “Phantasmagoria,” Carroll has crossed out the sentence: “Not even ‘in the Strand, the Strand!” and written above it, in pencil: “Nor in the wood nor [in the Strand]!” First state, with no mention of Alice in Wonderland on the title page, and title page not a cancel. Green 68. This copy that of the Honorable George Denman, whose daughter, Grace, was a favorite photographic subject of Carroll’s. Of this gift, Denman said: I did not lay down the book? until I had read [the poems] through; and enjoyed many a hearty laugh, and something like a cry or two. Moreover, I hope to read them through (as the old man said) ‘again and again” (The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll, 137-8). Numerous pencil notations by Denham.

Extremities lightly rubbed; light expert repair to cloth of joints. A near-fine copy, with exceptional association and inscription as well as Carroll’s own annotations.