Books and Manuscripts

The First-Ever Game Based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

[Carroll, Lewis]
The Game of Alice in Wonderland
New York: Published by Selchow & Righter, 1882. Comprising 52 color lithographic playing cards, divided into three numbered groups (two sets of 16 and one set of 20); 32 cards illustrated with characters from the book (based on John Tenniel’s original designs), 20 with numbers only. Set includes two printed rules cards. Lightly worn; card 2 in first set worn from damp, with pencil correction in top left corner; old pencil numbering in top left corner of each card in third set. In original red card box with illustrated paper cover label, rubbed and worn, tape repairs on lid corners, contemporary gift inscription on verso of same. OCLC 33064181

The first-ever game based on Lewis Carroll's beloved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This charming game comprises 52 printed playing cards, divided into two sets of 16 numbered picture cards featuring John Tenniel's illustrated characters, and one set of 20 number-only cards. Produced by the New York firm Selchow & Righter, the game was made for two to six players, with the object being to acquire the most cards by matching suits and symbols, each based on a ranking system.  

Extraordinarily rare. We can locate only three examples, at the Lilly Library, UCLA, and Kent State University. Of these only the UCLA and Kent State sets have the complete decks with the instructions cards as here. The Lilly’s set lacks the instructions. 

We can find no examples in the available auction record, nor any available in the retail market.