The catalyst for the writing of the 'Alice' stories stems from a picnic with the Liddell children, including Dodgson's muse, Alice Liddell, who was so taken with stories that she asked him to write them down for her, which he duly did under the title of Alice's Adventures Underground, with his own illustrations and not originally intended for early publication. However, when it was revised for publication, Dodgson cut out the more particular references to the picnic and added stories told to the Liddells at other times, as well as changing the title to; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This sequel, Through The Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There followed a few years later (dated 1872 but actually published in December 1871); this collection of further stories of Alice was considered as good if not better than its predecessor.

First edition, first impression; 8vo (190 x 135 mm); first edition, first issue, with 'wade' for 'wabe' on page 21, third line from bottom; tissue-guarded frontispiece and 50 illustrations by John Tenniel, general toning, occasional spotting, more evident to preliminary leaves, otherwise very good; publisher's red pictorial cloth by Burn (original paper label to rear paste-down), portrait of the Red Queen in gilt to upper cover, portrait of the White Queen to lower cover, gilt edges, dark blue endpapers, extremities rubbed, spine darkened and bumped at extremities, minor soiling, very slight shelf-lean, otherwise the condition is superior to most extant copies.

Williams, Madan, and Green 42, 84, 194.