The Nursery "Alice"

London: Macmillan and Co, 1890. Cloth. Good. 10" by 8". John Tenniel; E. Gertrude Thomson. The first published edition of this unique abridgement of Carroll's beloved tale, beautifully illustrated in colour throughout. The second edition, being the first published edition, with 'four shillings' price to the tail of the title, and the illustrations to page 34 showing Alice fully facing the Cheshire Cat, not in profile.The first, unpublished edition of 1889 had 10,000 sets of sheets printed, before Carroll rejected them for being too "bright and gaudy".Illustrated with a colour frontispiece, and colour illustrations throughout.Boards illustrated by Emily Gertrude Thomson. Thomson was approached by Carroll to illustrate this 'Nursery Alice' after he saw her illustrations for 'The Fairies' by William Allingham. However, Thomson took so long illustrating the cover that the work went to press, and she was unable to illustrate the rest of the work. Instead Tenniel's original illustrated were printed in this edition, coloured by Thomson. After this Carroll and Thomson became close friends until his death, after which she wrote a short biographical memoir on him.'The Nursery "Alice"' is an abridged version of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', adapted by Carroll for children aged "nought to five".This charming edition is written as though the story is being read allowed to children, with many interpolations, asking questions and pointing out details in the illustrations.Gift inscription to the half-title, 'Hubert ..... Thompson, from his affectionate godmother, D. E. H., July 13th 1890'.Collated, complete.Three pages of adverts to the rear. In the original publisher's quarter cloth binding, in the original paper covered boards. Externally, the boards are age-toned and marked and rubbed, with a red mark to the rear board. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities, with small chips to the head and tail of the spine, and to the front joint. Spine is discoloured. Loss of paper to the extremities. Hinges are starting but firm. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and generally clean with some handling marks and spots. Ink inscription to the half-title. Good