Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; [together with] Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. by CARROLL, Lewis - 1866 & 1872

London: Macmillan and Co.,, 1866 & 1872. A matching set of presentation first editions First published editions of both Alice books, presentation copies inscribed by the author to Margaret Evelyn Hardy, the daughter of Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy. In Dodgson's diary she is recorded in the list of recipients of presentation copies of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The inscriptions comprise "Margaret Evelyn Hardy from the Author" on the half-title of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and "Margaret Evelyn Hardy from the Author. Christmas 1871" on the half-title of Through the Looking-Glass. Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook (1814–1906), became known to Dodgson's Oxford circle in 1865 when he was nominated to stand in the Oxford University constituency against two other candidates, William Gladstone and William Heathcote. Dodgson records in his diary for 10 July signing a voting paper. Jackson's Oxford Journal for 15 July notes that "Dr Dodson [sic], of Christ Church" voted for Gladstone. The final result was Heathcote 1331, Gathorne-Hardy 767, and Gladstone 735 votes. The election prompted Dodgson to write his Dynamics of a Particle (1865), a satirical pamphlet masquerading as a mathematical treatise, in which the second chapter refers to the contest between Gathorne-Hardy and Gladstone. Gathorne-Hardy was responsible for Dodgson's admittance to the public area of the House of Commons on 8 April 1867, and when he visited Oriel College, Oxford, Dodgson invited him to Christ Church to have his photograph taken. Dodgson noted in his diary on 10 June 1867: "He had not long to spare, but I succeeded in taking two pictures of him, neither of them, I fear, particularly successful". On 24 June 1867 Gathorne-Hardy wrote to Dodgson stating "my little girl's names are Margaret Evelyn, and I am sure she would dearly treasure Alice in English and French, but has no right to tax you for both". A correspondence between the two men commenced, and Dodgson continued to send copies of his books to Margaret: we know she received the 1869 German and French translations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and her inscribed copy of Through the Looking-Glass is dated Christmas 1871. She also received a copy of The Hunting of the Snark with an inscription dated 24 April 1876. The present set is unrecorded by Carlson & Eger. Dodgson's diary entry for 12 September 1877 records a visit by the author to the Hardy family to "meet Evelyn again (she is now 'Miss Evelyn')" when he "walked on the Parade with Mrs. Hardy and Misses K. and E." Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is the first published edition and the second overall: the book was originally printed in Oxford at the Clarendon Press in June 1865, but was suppressed when Dodgson heard that John Tenniel, the book's illustrator, was dissatisfied with the quality of the printing. It was withdrawn before publication and now survives in tiny numbers. The book was entirely reset by Richard Clay for the present authorized Macmillan edition, the earliest edition that can be realistically obtained. Although dated 1866, the edition was ready by November 1865, in time for the Christmas market, and was published in a print run of 4,000. The copy of Through the Looking-Glass is the first edition; like its predecessor, it was published for the Christmas market and bears the following year's date in its imprint. It was published in December 1871, in an edition of 9,000. 2 volumes, octavo (176 x 117 mm). Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in red morocco, spines lettered and with motifs in gilt, raised bands, covers with pictorial roundels replicating the original binding design and single rule in gilt, elaborate turn-ins in gilt, gilt edges. Housed in a morocco entry slipcase. Illustrated frontispieces, with tissue guards, and illustrations to the text, all by John Tenniel. Occasional finger-soiling and foxing; near-fine and attractive copies. Carlson and Eger, Dodgson at Auction 1893-1999, 1999; Williams, Madan, Green, and Crutch 46, 84. Edward Wakeling, ed., Lewis Carroll's Diaries, 1993-2007.