Alice in Wonderland Exhibit at the Harry Ransom Center!!!

Only a few posts ago I was touting the spectacular collection and exhibit schedule of the Harry Ransom Center, the primary research facility for the Humanities at the University of Texas. Once again, I am thrilled to post preview information about their upcoming Alice in Wonderland exhibit! The Ransom Center owns several original photographs, letters and manuscripts from Lewis Carroll, as well as lots of items specific to Alice in Wonderland.

They have an original first edition that is one of the world's few "hospital copies." Here is the story according the website...

In June 1865, Lewis Carroll had fifty copies of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland bound up for presentation to family and friends. Shortly afterward the illustrator, John Tenniel, complained to Carroll that he was "entirely dissatisfied with the printing of the pictures." The author gave in to Tenniel’s request that the issue be suppressed. Carroll then attempted to recover the presentation copies, promising to replace them. All but perhaps fifteen copies were returned to Carroll, who then removed the presentation inscriptions and donated the books to children’s hospitals.

The cover and inside title page of the Harry Ransom Center's "hospital copy" First Edition.

The Ransom Center also owns a rare first edition Russian copy that was translated by a young Vladimir Nabokov, who was paid a whopping $5 for his trouble.

For more information, here is a video of the upcoming exhibit. I hope you can make it! Please share this post and spread the word on this wonderful exhibit!

Floral Fiction

I am a relentless advocate for shamelessly reveling in having the books with pretty covers if given the option. Why read the Pride and Prejudice with the bland cover when there are so many lovely options? Children are no different and may even choose to read a title they previously shunned if the cover entices them. Penguin Publishers seem to know this and have once again struck gold with their new line of children's classics, "In Bloom." As of now, they have four titles out and all are worth having regardless of your age. All are also available in the Apples and Spindles Bookshop. Take a peek and consider these for Christmas either as a gift or for yourself!

And so it begins...

There are so many possibilities when starting a blog, so many potential directions. Apples and Spindles has been a photography project of mine for almost a year, but it's always been more than that to me, a more complete way of thinking about and seeing the enchanted pockets of beauty, history and art in our world. It is my pleasure to share with you the way I embrace them. I hope you enjoy...

My photo, "Pink Books," is one of many book photos I've done in the last year. I've been a librarian for 15 years so such things were inevitable. 

The beautiful Annabelle modeling my necklace for my jewelry line, Bronte's Attic.

My beautiful friend, Lisa, modeling for me just because it's fun!

Me, testing the outdoor light for a photoshoot.