Description

WARMLY INSCRIBED IN BOTH VOLUMES BY LEWIS CARROLL

CARROLL, Lewis. Sylvie and Bruno. WITH: Sylvie and Bruno Concluded. London: Macmillan, 1889, 1893. Two volumes. Octavo, original gilt-stamped pictorial red cloth, all edges gilt.

First editions, inscribed on the half title of Volume I to the wife of a celebrated illustrator Carroll considered for Through the Looking Glass: “Lady Paton with sincere regards from the Author. Dec. 12, 1889” and  inscribed on the half title of Volume II: “Lady Paton with the Author’s sincere regards. Dec. 27, 1893,” in lovely original cloth-gilt.

Each volume includes 46 illustrations by Harry Furniss, which are described by Carroll as “wonderful” in his Prefaces. This is “the last considerable work issued by Dodgson” (Green 217). It grew out of his 1867 short story “Bruno’s Revenge,” which had long been a favorite tale he told to children. Shortly before publication, Carroll decided to divide the work into two separate publications. The theme of love ties the whole work together, as shown in the two lockets Sylvie’s father makes her choose between. One says “Sylvie will love all” and the other says “all will love Sylvie.” These books are inscribed to Lady Paton, the wife of Sir Noel Paton. Sir Paton was best known as the illustrator of Kingsley’s The Water-Babies and Carroll admired his work greatly. In 1868, Tenniel initially turned down the opportunity to illustrate Through the Looking Glass before eventually accepting. In the interim, Carroll asked Paton to consider the job. Paton rejected the commission due to illness and his conviction that Tenniel was the appropriate illustrator. Nevertheless, Carroll became quite close with the Paton family, visiting them at their Scotland home in 1871.

Rear inner paper hinge of Volume I starting, original cloth unusually nice with only mild toning to spine. A very nearly fine copy, rare inscribed.