Carroll, Lewis (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). Two Albumen Photographs of Alexandra "Xie" Rhoda Kitchin

Circa 1870 and 1873. Comprising two albumen prints, The Prettiest Doll in the World (1870) and Xie Kitchin (Danish) (1873), mounted to page removed from the "Kitchin Family Book", an album compiled by Vernon Parry Kitchin, great-nephew of Xie's father, the Rev. George William Kitchin. Album leaf inscribed at top with a transcript of a letter, from Rev. Kitchin to Vernon, describing Carroll's relationship with his father and Xie; newspaper clipping mounted to same, referring to the auction of Xie's copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (March 22, 1926); further manuscript caption at bottom left, "These two photos were taken by 'Lewis Carroll' (Rev. C.L. Dodgson) author of 'Alice in Wonderland' &c, who was a great friend of the family." Four albumen prints mounted to verso, by various photographers, two showing Xie, the other two showing other Kitchin family members. Includes a second sheet from the same album, mounted with four mounted albumen prints, by various photographers, showing various Kitchin family members. The Prettiest Doll in the World: 4 5/8 x 2 7/8 (117 x 73 mm); Xie Kitchin (Danish): 5 1/2 x 4 in. (140 x 102 mm), on 12 x 10 in. (305 x 254 mm) sheet. Wakeling, The Photographs of Lewis Carroll: A Catalogue Raisonné, 1893 and 2132

Alexandra "Xie" Rhoda Kitchin (1864-1925) was a favorite photographic subject of Lewis Carroll, who photographed her around fifty times, from age four until just before her sixteenth birthday. She was the daughter of the Rev. George William Kitchin, Carroll's colleague at Christ Church, Oxford, who later became Dean of Winchester and Dean of Durham. Xie had three younger brothers, George Herbert, Hugh Bridges, and Brook Taylor, and a younger sister, Dorothy Maud Mary, all photographed by Carroll.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance

Vernon Parry Kitchin, by descent in the family

Sotheby's, London, May 7, 1998, Sale 8302, Lot 106

Sotheby's, London, December 12, 2023, Lot 263

From the collection of Justin G. Schiller

Carroll, Lewis (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). Two Albumen Photographs of Alexandra "Xie" Rhoda Kitchin

Carroll, Lewis (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). Two Albumen Photographs of Alexandra "Xie" Rhoda Kitchin