Alice and the Collector's Gene

My son in law Dan – who is one of my best friends as well – and I will both admit to possessing the collector gene. Luckily for Dan his wife, my daughter Jess, inherited it from me, so they’re well matched in that respect.

Of course, the ‘collector gene’ is not genetic. Collector or collecting behaviour is influenced by a wide variety of factors. But it seems to be true that some of us are more susceptible to the desire to collect than others. I have a number of small collections of different things. The fact that I’m only going to discuss one of them should let you know that I don’t feel that this is an altogether healthy state of affairs. But as Shakespeare once wrote – Above all else, to thine own self be true.

It started a few weeks ago. I went looking on eBay for a copy of Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass, in a set published by the Daily Express in the 30s. This was the book that inspired me when I was very little.

I didn’t find it.

I did, however, find a combined edition of the two books with the Mervyn Peake illustrations for a very, very good price. So I bought it. 

Then a week or two later I thought -I’d love a combined edition with Ralph Steadman illustrations- There is actually a method to this. My thinking is I might be able to find illustrations in the books that you don’t see on the internet. I found one – not cheap cheap, but considering the sumptuousness of the book it was extremely reasonable.

The thing is, once you have a couple, you have a collection starting. In the last seven days I’ve bought editions with the Arthur Rackham illustrations, 

and the Charles Robinson illustrations. 

Also, in my hunt I did see a ridiculously cheap edition with Rene Cloke’s 1944 illustrations. And the thing is – I don’t even like Rene Cloke’s illustrations that much. I can appreciate the skill, but they don’t speak to my conception of Alice. But it was so bloody cheap I couldn’t leave it!

Which, you may have worked out, leaves Harry Rountree alone of my absolute favourites, whom I have yet to obtain a copy of. Don’t worry – I bought one on ebay today! Collector’s gene – gotta love it, ain’t you?

If I can speak a little in my own defence, at least I'm not trying to buy ridiculously expensive first editions. It's the illustrations in the books that are valuable to me.