Each measuring roughly 5 x 31/2in (13 x 9cm) and sitting on wrought iron stands, the plaques are all headed with the word ‘Menu’ and were apparently used at Tenniel family dinners, the evening’s fare being written in crayon. I only wish I could recall the last occasion on which this set appeared at auction, but instead can only record the fact that they fell some way short of $20,000-30,000 expectations, but did sell for $15,000 (£10,415).
Also sold under estimate at $8000 (£5555) was an 1890 copy of The Nursery “Alice” inscribed by Carroll to HRH the Princess Alice, one of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters, but while the provenance may have been excellent, condition was not perfect.
Another lot to sell at $8000 was a second edition, 11th impression copy of The Hobbit. Signed by Tolkien to the title page, this was a copy given to his friend George Sayer, who was a longtime friend and, with his wife, gave much advice to Tolkien during the writing of Lord of the Rings. The catalogue entry contained an amusing and apposite misprint in referring to the fact that the Sayers “frequently welcomed him as a quest in their home in Melvern”.
A copy of the important first part of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica, a 1482 Venetian edition in 18th century half calf that was once in the Doheny library – though not in the Christie’s sales – was sold at $8500 (£5900).
The Tenniel family sat down to dinner with Alice
OFFERED as part of a March 28 sale held by Pacific Book Auctions was a set of six porcelain plaques painted by John Tenniel with characters from Alice in Wonderland.
