Signed versions of Alice in Wonderland

I just got an email saying that 200 copies of Alice in Wonderland are now available with a signature by Charles van Sandwyk. The price is £100. This seems reasonable in light of other recently signed SEs, given that the unsigned version is normally £60.

Not one for me because I don't buy books for signatures, but could be of interest to others.

https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/alice-in-wonderland-signed-edition.html

The book is not in fact signed by the artist but he has signed a small tipped-in signature plate. Not the same at all!

>2 English-bookseller: There’s a difference yeah, but that’s the norm with all of their LEs these days.

Going very fast. Nine left........

They certainly won't last even four hours.

All gone ...

>1 ubiquitousuk: "This seems reasonable in light of other recently signed SEs, given that the unsigned version is normally £60."

I agree it's certainly more reasonable than previous offerings, though it's a shame they charge any premium at all when places like Waterstones don't charge anything extra for signed editions. That said, if people are willing to pay extra (and they clearly are!) then one can't really blame FS for letting them.

And for some authors/artists, "If you can find an unsigned version it's worth an absolute fortune."

Copies already up on Ebay for £200!

>9 wcarter: Thanks. Easy way to tag the scalpers. There’s one who offers 2, one for 250 GBP and the other for 1395 GBP (with a different main pic which I guess serves to masquerade it as a more special edition).

>10 bacchus.:

Wild guess - the £1395 copy with the different main pic is the original LE published by Folio in 2016.

Did anybody bother to read the description of the £1,395 one?

>12 What_What: Now everyone can. Full description below.

A Folio Society 1st Edition, 1st Printing of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with very rare, original ink and watercolour drawing by Charles Van Sandwyk laid into the book. The watercolour depicts the Cheshire Cat grinning from a tree, it is signed bottom right by Charles Van Sandwyk, who has also dated the drawing 2019, the date the book was published.

As I have already mentioned, the watercolour has been laid into a 1st Edition, 1st Printing of this Folio Society edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The book itself is in mint, unread condition and has also been signed by Charles Van Sandwyk on the half-title page. There is a compliments slip included, signed by Sandwyk, it came with the book explaining all of this - please see pictures.

>13 assemblyman:
Sounds like the 2016 LE which was also signed on a laid in print by the artist.
Details and pictures of the LE can be seen at https://flic.kr/p/2i7he8t

>14 wcarter: The pictures included with the listing show it to be the SE. The seller just seems to be making a big thing out of the fact that it's a first printing of the SE. That, the signed print and the signature to the half title are what the seller deems it being worthy of the price asked.

>15 assemblyman:

Do you have a link to these editions, Brendan? The pricing seems so crazy it's got me interested now. I'd like to take a look and maybe, y'know, "ask the seller a question."

>16 folio_books: No problem Glenn. Links to both editions from the same seller below:

£1,395
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256393641996?hash=item3bb240800c:g:pJIAAOSwYldlMqtA&a...

£250
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256393641997?hash=item3bb240800d:g:3yIAAOSwNmBlX4sJ&a...

>14 wcarter:
Wow.
I wished Folio Society would go back with the Limited Editions to this era.
Right now they are just some fancy and overpriced , but gorgeous machine bound books.

>15 assemblyman: I must be overlooking something. Doesn’t the £1,395 listing include some kind of original artwork by CvS?

Whether someone values it to that extent is another question, but it’s not just the SE with a signature.

Were these sold by the Folio Society, or did the seller acquire it another way?

The standard edition itself definitely isn't worth this, 1st edition first printing or not. The drawing has value, however. It's not that easy to get something like this by van Sandwyk, especially since a gallery that used to sell some of his etchings and drawings at a good price closed down some years ago. For native speakers: Laid in does mean that it's not drawn into the book but on a separate piece of paper, did I get that right? Not that I want to buy this, but it would be interesting to know.

>19 What_What: Yes your right. I called it a signed print in my post above rather than a signed ink and watercolour artwork.

>21 assemblyman:

From the horse's mouth, to underline what you're saying:

"The more expensive copy has an original watercolour by Charles Van Sandwyk tipped into the book, so it's really rare. The cheaper copy is signed by Van Sandwyk, but doesn't come with an original watercolour. "

>19 What_What: Given that it comes with a handwritten note from CVS explaining what the edition is & mentioning the additional inclusion of an original watercolour i assumed it was given to someone personally by the artist (?)

>23 antinous_in_london: Yes you’re probably right. Original artwork is always hard to price. So maybe it’ll be worth it to someone.

But yes, for the others trying to flip the £100 signed edition for £200 on eBay, seems like a lot of work.