Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1975 edition), illustrated by Arthur Rackham, offers a unique interpretation of Lewis Carroll‘s classic tale, though with an important historical note: Rackham’s original illustrations for Alice were actually created in 1907 for a separate edition. This 1975 version by Avenel Books repackages Rackham’s iconic artwork in a new format, featuring:
- 13 full-color plates and 15 black-and-white drawings from Rackham’s 1907 commission
- His distinctive Art Nouveau style, giving Alice a more ethereal, fairy-tale quality compared to Tenniel’s famous illustrations
- A smaller, more affordable format than the lavish 1907 William Heinemann first edition
While not matching the grandeur of the original Rackham-illustrated edition (which had gilt-decorated green cloth boards), this 1975 reprint makes his beautiful interpretations more accessible to collectors. The volume showcases Rackham’s signature delicate lines and muted color palette, particularly in his melancholic Mad Hatter and sinuous Cheshire Cat.
For serious collectors, the 1907 first edition with Rackham illustrations remains the prize, but this 1975 version serves as an excellent reader’s copy of this alternative artistic vision of Wonderland. It’s particularly interesting to compare with both Tenniel’s original drawings and later interpretations by Salvador Dalí or Mervyn Peake.
