Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll – 1897 | Altemus Color Plates Edition

The 1897 Alice’s Adventures Carroll Altemus edition is an early American printing from the Henry Altemus Company, issued as part of their Young People’s Library series. Distinct in both size and style, this version includes forty-two illustrations and features an illustrated cloth binding uncommon among late-19th-century U.S. children’s editions. The book reflects American commercial publishing trends at the turn of the century, departing from the original British visual tradition by introducing a unique set of house-commissioned images.

Incorporating the illustrations by John Tenniel from the British editions, this issue also includes four color plates printed with a lighter palette, and the characters such as the Caterpillar, Duchess, and Queen of Hearts appear less severe in tone.

Typography is legible, and the page layout follows the series standard used across Altemus’ youth publications. Margins are consistent, with decorative title page borders showing late 19th-century design influences. Rear matter includes an advertising section listing other juvenile works by the same publisher.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
• Author(s): Lewis Carroll
• Illustrator(s): Uncredited (Altemus house)
• Publisher: Philadelphia, Henry Altemus Company
• Edition: 1897, early Altemus.
• Format: 16mo, single volume
• Binding: Pictorial cloth in green, red, and white
• Size:  6.75 in x 5.25 in (17 cm x 13.5 cm)
• Collation: 160, 16 pp
• Illustrations: 42 illustrations including four full-page color plates
• Contents Include:
  • Full text of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
  • Color frontispiece and additional chromolithographic illustrations
  • Altemus catalog of children’s titles [16 pp

Condition:

This example is bound in the original decorative cloth featuring a printed design of the Duchess with infant, bordered by red and green ornamental elements. The spine bears red titling over lightly faded cloth. Corners show minor softening; hinges are secure. Internally, the book is complete, with 160 pages and 16 additional pages of publisher advertisements. The paper remains intact, and the chromolithographic plates are present with no signs of detachment. Light toning is visible throughout, typical of Altemus productions from this period.

Why Collect This?

• Altemus copyright date of 1897 identifies it as one of the earliest American illustrated issues
• Forty-two illustrations exclusive to this edition, not derived from Tenniel’s work
• Decorative American publisher’s binding with chromolithograph elements
• Issued as part of a collectible publisher’s series aimed at U.S. juvenile markets
• Suitable for collectors of Alice imprints, turn-of-the-century American bindings, or early color-illustrated children’s books

Item Number: #28661