1943 Undated early P. R. Gawthorn issue ,
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
The World’s Greatest Fairy Story. Pictured in Colour by RENE CLOKE
An attractive early P. R. Gawthorn issue of Carroll’s perennial classic, retaining its pictorial dust jacket priced 8/6 and illustrated throughout by René Cloke. The Gawthorn issue is bibliographically awkward, with records and trade references variously giving it as undated, [1943], or mid-1940s; the safest trade description is therefore an undated early issue, circa 1944. Bright red cloth, black titling, charming jacket design, and Cloke’s colour work give the book strong shelf appeal.
By Lewis Carroll
Author Bio: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English writer of children's fiction, notably Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass. He was noted for his facility with word play, logic, and fantasy. The poems "Jabberwocky" and The Hunting of the Snark are classified in the genre of literary nonsense. He was also a mathematician, photographer, inventor, and Anglican deacon.
Illustrated By: Rene Cloke
Illustrator Bio: René Cloke (1904–1995) was a British illustrator and watercolourist, born in Plymouth, whose long career was devoted largely to children’s books, annuals, postcards, and greeting cards. Largely self-taught, she began illustrating professionally in the 1920s and became especially admired for her whimsical, highly decorative scenes of children, animals, fairies, pixies, and other fantasy subjects. Her work for the Alice books is characteristic of her mid-century manner: bright in colour, gentle in mood, and rich in nursery-book charm.
Synopsis: Alice follows the White Rabbit down the rabbit-hole into a dream-world of abrupt size changes, riddles, comic menace, and surreal encounters with figures such as the Caterpillar, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and card-court royalty. Cloke’s interpretation softens the grotesque edge of Wonderland into a vividly coloured and highly appealing mid-century picture-book form.
Binding: Hardcover, Super octavo (8vo 7 × 11 in 178 × 279 mm )
Note: Binding/size selection follows standard bibliographic conventions and is approximate; exact measurements may vary.
Collation: pp. 104
Language: English
Published By: P. R. Gawthorn Ltd., 55 Russell Square, London
Condition Report:
Dust Jacket: Yes, Dust Jacket Condition: Good
Very Good - Very Good book in Good only dust jacket. Original red cloth remains bright and presentable, with black titling clear. Text block appears clean and sound; colour plates bright and fresh. Dust jacket is present and apparently unclipped at 8/6, with notable creasing, rubbing and edgewear, together with wear at folds and spine. Still an attractive survival, especially as so many copies are found without jacket or in heavily compromised wrappers.
Binding:
Hardcover, octavo (approx. 4 3/8 × 8 1/8 in / 110 × 206 mm).
Collation: 104 pp.; title-page with P. R. Gawthorn Ltd., 55 Russell Square, London, W.C.1.; illustrated by René Cloke; red cloth boards lettered in black; pictorial dust jacket priced 8/6. Institutional and trade records confirm the undated Gawthorn issue and 104-page format; the present copy, from the photographs supplied, retains its jacket and colour illustrations.
References:
WorldCat OCLC 12785236
Dartmouth Rauner: Alice in Wonderland, illustrated by René Cloke, London: P.R. Gawthorn, [1943] (Rauner Sine Illus C536ali)
Museums Victoria HT 34581 (copy inscribed “Xmas 1944”)
Google Books record for Alice in Wonderland (P.R. Gawthorn Limited, 104 pp.)
Williams & Madan / Green & Crutch, The Lewis Carroll Handbook, WMGC p.241 (as cited by de Freitas for the 1945 reprint)..
SKU: BTETM0002525
Shipping Info: Approximate Package Dimensions H: 12.5, L: 30, W: 25 (Units: cm), W: 2Kg
Tracked Shipping, Insurance Coverage as per Customer Request
1943 Undated early P. R. Gawthorn issue ,
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
The World’s Greatest Fairy Story. Pictured in Colour by RENE CLOKE
An attractive early P. R. Gawthorn issue of Carroll’s perennial classic, retaining its pictorial dust jacket priced 8/6 and illustrated throughout by René Cloke. The Gawthorn issue is bibliographically awkward, with records and trade references variously giving it as undated, [1943], or mid-1940s; the safest trade description is therefore an undated early issue, circa 1944. Bright red cloth, black titling, charming jacket design, and Cloke’s colour work give the book strong shelf appeal.
By Lewis Carroll
Author Bio: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English writer of children's fiction, notably Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass. He was noted for his facility with word play, logic, and fantasy. The poems "Jabberwocky" and The Hunting of the Snark are classified in the genre of literary nonsense. He was also a mathematician, photographer, inventor, and Anglican deacon.
Illustrated By: Rene Cloke
Illustrator Bio: René Cloke (1904–1995) was a British illustrator and watercolourist, born in Plymouth, whose long career was devoted largely to children’s books, annuals, postcards, and greeting cards. Largely self-taught, she began illustrating professionally in the 1920s and became especially admired for her whimsical, highly decorative scenes of children, animals, fairies, pixies, and other fantasy subjects. Her work for the Alice books is characteristic of her mid-century manner: bright in colour, gentle in mood, and rich in nursery-book charm.
Synopsis: Alice follows the White Rabbit down the rabbit-hole into a dream-world of abrupt size changes, riddles, comic menace, and surreal encounters with figures such as the Caterpillar, Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and card-court royalty. Cloke’s interpretation softens the grotesque edge of Wonderland into a vividly coloured and highly appealing mid-century picture-book form.
Binding: Hardcover, Super octavo (8vo 7 × 11 in 178 × 279 mm )
Note: Binding/size selection follows standard bibliographic conventions and is approximate; exact measurements may vary.
Collation: pp. 104
Language: English
Published By: P. R. Gawthorn Ltd., 55 Russell Square, London
Condition Report:
Dust Jacket: Yes, Dust Jacket Condition: Good
Very Good - Very Good book in Good only dust jacket. Original red cloth remains bright and presentable, with black titling clear. Text block appears clean and sound; colour plates bright and fresh. Dust jacket is present and apparently unclipped at 8/6, with notable creasing, rubbing and edgewear, together with wear at folds and spine. Still an attractive survival, especially as so many copies are found without jacket or in heavily compromised wrappers.
Binding:
Hardcover, octavo (approx. 4 3/8 × 8 1/8 in / 110 × 206 mm).
Collation: 104 pp.; title-page with P. R. Gawthorn Ltd., 55 Russell Square, London, W.C.1.; illustrated by René Cloke; red cloth boards lettered in black; pictorial dust jacket priced 8/6. Institutional and trade records confirm the undated Gawthorn issue and 104-page format; the present copy, from the photographs supplied, retains its jacket and colour illustrations.
References:
WorldCat OCLC 12785236
Dartmouth Rauner: Alice in Wonderland, illustrated by René Cloke, London: P.R. Gawthorn, [1943] (Rauner Sine Illus C536ali)
Museums Victoria HT 34581 (copy inscribed “Xmas 1944”)
Google Books record for Alice in Wonderland (P.R. Gawthorn Limited, 104 pp.)
Williams & Madan / Green & Crutch, The Lewis Carroll Handbook, WMGC p.241 (as cited by de Freitas for the 1945 reprint)..
SKU: BTETM0002525
Shipping Info: Approximate Package Dimensions H: 12.5, L: 30, W: 25 (Units: cm), W: 2Kg
Tracked Shipping, Insurance Coverage as per Customer Request
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