• Pin It

Sir John Tenniel original illustration from ”Through the Looking Glass”, the sequel to the enormously successful ”Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. This illustration appears on page 201 of the first edition of ”Looking Glass”, done to illustrate the text, ”She was standing before an arched doorway over which were the words QUEEN ALICE in large letters…” A presentation inscription by Tenniel is written to the lower margin, ”With Mr. Tenniel’s kind regards / Christmas 1876”. Pencil drawing was done sometime between 1869-1871 when Tenniel again collaborated with Lewis Carroll in illustrating his novel, an undertaking that Tenniel first rejected due to the time-consuming nature of the work: after drawing preliminary sketches, Tenniel would transfer the artwork onto woodblocks using tracing paper and then finish shading on the blocks. The Brothers Dalziel would then produce engravings from the blocks. Tenniel at first rejected Carroll’s offer to illustrate ”Looking Glass”, but ultimately relented as Carroll could find no other illustrator that matched Tenniel’s ”grotesque” interpretation of the fantasy creatures he envisioned. Drawing measures 3.25” x 4.5”, archivally matted and framed to 11.25” x 12.75”. Very light foxing to margins and light uniform toning, overall near fine condition. From the Bronson Winthrop collection of Tenniel drawings: Parke-Bernet sale of 12 March 1945, lot 164.  Sold for $37,500.