1931 Rare Book in a Riviere Binding - The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll

Author: Lewis Carroll. Illustrated by Henry Holiday.
Title: The Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight Fits.
Publisher: London, Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1931.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 6 x 4 inches.
Pages: xii-83 pages.
Binding: Attractive and near fine signed Riviere and Son binding, finely bound in full green morocco, spine elaborately gilt in compartments with red and black morocco labels, covers with triple gilt fillet border and corner ornaments, front cover gilt-stamped with a caricature of the Judge from the poem, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers with rich gilt dentelles (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Near fine content (bright, tight and clean - as shown).
Illustrations: Complete with nine full-page black-and-white illustrations by Henry Holiday, including the famed "Ocean-Chart" on page 17 and other highly detailed and imaginative images.

The book: The Hunting of the Snark (1931 later edition) is a whimsical narrative poem by Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Written with his signature wordplay and absurdist style, the poem follows an improbable crew on a fantastical voyage to catch the elusive Snark. Though first published in 1876, this early 20th-century reprint retains all the charm of the original, enhanced here by a luxurious binding. Carroll’s blending of logic, nonsense, and poetic rhythm continues to enchant both young readers and literary collectors.

The author: Lewis Carroll (1832–1898), the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was a mathematician, Anglican deacon, and pioneer of literary nonsense. Best known for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, Carroll's playful and often philosophical tales have influenced generations of readers and writers. The Hunting of the Snark is one of his most celebrated poems outside the Alice canon, embodying his unique voice and enigmatic vision.

The illustrator: Henry Holiday (1839–1927) was a British artist, stained-glass designer, and illustrator closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement. His collaboration with Lewis Carroll on The Hunting of the Snark marked a significant contribution to Victorian book illustration. His wood engravings, with their meticulous detail and surreal atmosphere, remain iconic in their own right, perfectly complementing Carroll’s blend of fantasy and logic.