Lewis Carroll - The Hunting of the Snark - Second Reprint Dec 1876

A Seventeenth Thousand (second reprint) of The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll, published by Macmillan and Co., London, in December 1876. This early Macmillan issue retains the original publisher’s boards with triple-ruled gilt borders and gilt roundels to both covers the front depicting The Bellman and the rear The Beaver (now partly obscured by staining). The volume contains the nine illustrations by Henry Holiday and includes the publisher’s advertisement leaf at the rear. The well-known early textual point is present, with “Baker” for “Butcher” on page 83, confirming an early issue within the 1876 printings. An inscription to Mary Jameson dated 25 May 1882 is written to the front free endpaper, quoting the ninth stanza of the Third Fit in full, and her bookplate depicting a seated, flute-playing faun, however this plate remains partially rubbed at the front.

As shown in the photos, the book has been later rebacked and half-bound in crimson smooth-grained morocco with gilt titling to the spine, while preserving the original boards. All edges are gilt and remain bright. The text block is notably clean and well preserved, free from foxing or staining, with only light, even age-toning. Condition issues are primarily confined to the binding: staining to the boards (most pronounced on the rear), rubbing to edges and corners, and some residual adhesive to the upper margin of the front free endpaper from an old sticker removal. The later rebacking has stabilised the structure, and despite the binding alterations, this remains a sound, internally attractive early Macmillan printing of Carroll’s enduring nonsense classic.