DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge ("Lewis Carroll") (1832-1898). Sylvie and Bruno. -Sylvie and Bruno Concluded. London: Macmillan, 1889, 1893.
2 works in 2 volumes, 8vo (180 x 120 mm). Numerous illustrations after Harry Furniss. Uniformly bound in 20th century half red morocco, spines in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, top edges gilt, stamp-signed by Bayntun; original red cloth gilt bound in; cloth folding case. Provenance: Mrs. Woodhouse (presentation inscriptions from Dodgson, see below).
FIRST EDITIONS, PRESENTATION COPIES, INSCRIBED BY DODGSON THE DAY BEFORE PUBLICATION: "Mrs. Woodhouse with kindest regards from the Author. Dec. 12. 1889." and "Mrs. Woodhouse with the Author's sincere regards. Dec. 28, 1893."
Mrs. Woodhouse, the recipient, is most likely Mrs. Mary Lakemore Woodhouse, who lived at Weybridge, Surrey, and who Dodgson met in September 1879 at Eastbourne. In a 1 September 1887 letter to Harry Furniss discussing his illustrations for Sylvie and Bruno, Dodgson mentions Mrs. Woodhouse's daughter, Nora: "There is a lovely girl, an old friend of mine...who would do splendidly for Lady Muriel" (Edward Wakeling, Lewis Carroll and His Illustrators: Collaborations & Correspondence 1865-1898 p.145). Mrs. Woodhouse provided Dodgson with 5 photographs of Nora to share with Furniss to use as the model for his depiction of Lady Muriel. On 9 September 1887, Dodgson writes to Furniss: "On the whole, I doubt if you could have a better guide for the head of Lady Muriel...Mrs. Woodhouse says 'Should Mr. Furniss care to copy either [photograph] for your book, I should esteem it a honour'" (Edward Wakeling, Lewis Carroll and His Illustrators: Collaborations & Correspondence 1865-1898 p.149).
Dodgson also similarly inscribed copies of both works to Emmeline Woodhouse, the wife of his close friend and colleague George Girdlestone Woodhouse, which are part of the Berg Collection at the New York Public Library. Williams, Madan, Green and Crutch 217, 250. SUPERB ASSOCIATION COPIES.
Estimate $1,000-1,500