Alice in Wonderland | Lewis Carroll | c. 1918 Second Edition | 48 Colored Plates by Margaret W. Tarrant | Ward, Lock & Co.

A particularly lovely early twentieth-century edition of Alice in Wonderland, illustrated throughout with the charming and highly collectible artwork of Margaret W. Tarrant. Published by Ward, Lock & Co., this is the second edition of the Tarrant-illustrated issue, dating to approximately 1918.

Bound in its original rich red cloth, the volume features an inset color illustration to the front board, gilt titling, and a rainbow-striped decorative spine. The book is illustrated with all 48 of Margaret W. Tarrant’s full-page colored plates, including the frontispiece, along with wonderful illustrated endpapers. Tarrant’s interpretation of Alice is dreamy, imaginative, and unmistakably of its era, making this edition as much a visual treasure as a beloved literary classic.

Margaret Winifred Tarrant (1888–1959) was a beloved English illustrator known for her dreamy, storybook imagery of children, fairies, and classic literary scenes.

The book is in very good condition. The binding is sound and the striking cover illustration and gilt remain attractive, with very light rubbing and wear at the edges. Pages are generally clean with scattered minor light foxing and age toning, most noticeable at the preliminaries and a few margins. The complete suite of colored plates remains present and beautifully displayed. 332 pages, followed by 8 pages of publisher’s advertisements. Measures approximately 6.3” x 8.3”.

A wonderful early Tarrant Alice—an especially handsome addition to a children’s literature, illustration, or Alice in Wonderland collection.