SIGNED BY RACKHAM
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
William Heinemann, 1907.
First edition illustrated by Arthur Rackham. 8vo. Green cloth with gilt vignettes. Top edge gilt. Signed by Arthur Rackham on the half title. Pictorial endpapers illustrated in green line. Thirteen colour plates under captioned tissue guards and lots of black and white illustrations. A very good copy, with slight fading to the spine and some foxing to the preliminary pages and page edges.
Arthur Rackham married Edyth Starkie in July 1903. Edyth's family were less than enthusiastic about the marriage and on the day of the wedding their suspicions were almost confirmed. Edyth's father having died some years previously, it was to be her brother Robert giving her away. As they arrived at the church they spotted the bride groom disappearing in a hansom cab. "There you are Edyth. He's left you already," exclaimed Robert. In fact Arthur was dashing home to collect the forgotten wedding ring. Presumably the men overcame their differences and this copy is the first of a series of books presented by Rackham to his brother in law. Signed copies of Alice are extremely rare, unusually even the Edition de Luxe did not bear Rackham's signature.
PROVENANCE: Christmas gift to Robert Starkie from Arthur Rackham and his wife.
Stock ID: 32091
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