Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. (offered with) Through the looking-glass and what Alice Found there

West Hatfield, Massachusetts: Pennyroyal Press, 1982. FIRST EDITIONS. I: Paste-downs and endpapers with yellow decorations, dedication and half-title printed in blue and black, title printed in blue, black and red. With numerous exquisite Moser wood engravings. Bound in the publisher’s half-purple goat over marbled boards, gilt lettering to spine. Also with the addition suite of 74 plates and explanatory sheet, all signed by Moser. The entirety contained in the publisher’s folding quarter-purple goat clamshell case, gilt lettering to spine; II: Dedication and half-title printed in blue and black, title printed in blue, black and red. Amazing text and full-page wood engravings by Moser. Bound in the publisher’s half-maroon goat over decorated boards, gilt lettering to spine. Also with the addition suite of 92 plates, each signed by Moser. The entirety contained in the publisher’s folding quarter-maroon goat clamshell case, gilt lettering to spine. Laid in is the original hand-printed prospectus announcing the publication.
Both volumes in excellent condition, as if never opened. The Pennyroyal Press editions of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland and Through the looking-glass. Both are Number 102 of 350 copies printed. “Published in 1982, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was Moser’s 60th book, but the first project that he had done on this scale. He had been commissioned to do wood engravings for the Albion Press’ Moby Dick in 1979 and it convinced him he could tackle a large and complex project on his own. He conducted a survey of friends, artists, collectors, and book dealers as to what project they would most like to see and Alice was chosen overwhelmingly (save a few voices that said Do anything, just DON’T do Alice!). Dark and whimsical, it was a far cry from Tenniel’s well known little blonde girl. Moser’s Alice is a mischievous brunette with hair getting in her eyes. She’s about 9, just about the age that little Alice Liddell would have been.” The 1983 American Book Award for design was awarded to the Pennyroyal Alice.