Large collection of Alice in Wonderland books and memorabilia on sale
On February 8th, one of the largest collections of Alice in Wonderland books and memorabilia in the world will be put up for auction in Oxford.
The auction is called the “Oxford Authors Sale” and will be in auction house Mallams, Oxford (UK). It concerns the collection by the late Thomas Schuster, an international antiquarian books and prints dealer, and his wife Alice.
The collection consists of about 3,000 Alice related items they collected over the course of 25 years, amongst which are books, porcelain, artwork, posters, toys, dolls and ephemera. They range from the rare and academically important to the bizarre.
Highlights from the collection (to be sold in 360 lots) have been exhibited publicly on two previous occasions. However, Mallams’ sale will provide the first opportunity to view the collection in its entirety.
Exhibition times:
- Saturday 4th February 9am – 1pm
- Monday 6th February 9am- 5pm (Followed by a short talk at 5.15pm by local author, Mark Davies.)
- Tuesday 7th February 9am – 5pm
- And morning of sale, February 8th, from 8.30 am
Some items from the collection:

A rebacked 1866 first edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland published by Macmillan in 1866.

A silk covered folder titled An Easter Greeting to Every Child who Loves Alice, together with two examples of The Wonderland Postage-Stamp-Case with a leaflet titled Eight or Nine Wise Words About Letter Writing by Lewis Carroll.
More information about this auction can be found on the Mallams website. View all items from the auction.
[EDIT]
As many people ask me about the value of their old books, I’ll show the prices the oldest and most valuable books went for below. Much depends on the year and number of print, and the condition the book is in.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, printed by Macmillan in 1866: £2000
(“1st published ed. 2nd issue. sm. 8vo. Ill. John Tenniel. Frontis. with tissue guard. lacks 1/2 tp & advt. p. 192pp. some foxing and repair to pp. A.e.g. Orig. cl. rebacked & new blue endpp. Generally worn.”)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, printed by Macmillan in 1867: £900
(“fifth Thousand. 4th edn. Ill. John Tenniel. 1/2 tp. ink insc. to ffep. A.e.g. Orig. glt. cl. worn with split to spine joint.”)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, printed by Macmillan in 1867: £800
(“seventh Thousand, 8vo. frontis. with tissue guard. hinges weak. A.e.g. glt. bds. bumped. Ill. John Tenniel”)
Through The Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, printed by Macmillan in 1872: £520
(“1st edn. 1st issue with “wade” p. 21. 8vo. 1/2 tp. Frontis. with tissue guard. advts. to rear. a.e.g. hinges weak. cl. worn. Ill. John Tenniel”)
The Nursery ‘Alice’, printed by Macmillan in 1889 AND The Nursery ‘Alice’, printed by Macmillan in 1890 :£950
(“Peoples Edition, Cover design by E. Gertrude Thomson, price two shillings enlarged and printed by Edmund Evans. Frontis. with tissue guard, loss to corner of tissue guard. 1/4 cl. pict. bds. bumped. (Alice profile visible p. 34) Tog. with another edition dated 1890. “price one shilling” Alice profile not visible on p. 34. bklpt. pict. cl. bumped. 2 “)