Geoffrey William Backhouse (1903-1978), was born in Wales, and studied in Heatherleys school of fine art, and worked for Modern art studios. He was known for illustrating ‘Strongheart, the Magnificent’, an adventure comic strip, telling the story of a brave German Shepherd. His ‘Alice in Wonderland’ edition was published in the early 1950’s, presumed 1951, but I can’t seem to find the actual 1st edition printing year. My G. W. Backhouse ‘Alice in Wonderland’ edition is a 7th impression, from 1958.
Backhouse’s style is reminiscent of a comic strip style. The book has an enormous amount of illustrations, and pretty much every page includes an illustration. Alice would’ve been pleased. Most of the illustrations are black and white, and there are 4 colored ones.
I know that on a number of Alice book editions posts here, I said this edition is profusely illustrated, and its very true in this case too. G. W. Backhouse gave us 80+ illustrations of Alice in Wonderland.
Let’s dive into the book.
Dust jacket with Alice and the Royals, on the way to the Croquet game
Front hard cover
Alice watching the White rabbit, across the title page. The next image is depicting the very same scene, only slightly different. How amazing is that?!
A Colored illustration of the scene where Alice notices the White Rabbit, as he’s pulling out a pocket watch from his waist coat. Compare this one with the previous black and white illustration, which is the same one, only from a slightly different view.
Title page. Alice in Wonderland, G.W. Backhouse, Published by Collins, London and Glasgow.
Chapters page, with the gardners and soldiers
Colored illustrations list, with key Wonderland characters around
All in a Golden Afternoon, poem, with Dodgson, at the top, by the three Liddell sisters, and Wonderland characters around
Poem continues
The White Rabbit
Alice falling down the Rabbits hole
Alice and Koalas
Alice and the Rabbit
Drink me
Alice shrinking
Alice swimming in her pool of tears
Alice growing
Alice after the White Rabbit
How Doth the Little Crocodile
Alice and mouse, swimming in her pool of tears
Alice and mouse
Alice and animals
A caucus race
Mouse’s tale
Alice, the Dodo, and the rest of the caucus race animals
Alice and Dodo
Alice insults the mouse
Alice makes everyone uncomfortable with her ‘Dinah’ remarks
Alice left all alone
Alice and Rabbit
Alice at the White Rabbit’s house
White Rabbit going up the stairs
Alice terrorizing the neighborhood
Bill the lizard, getting kicked out of the chimney
Alice eating cakes
Alice and the puppy
Alice and the Caterpillar
Father William standing on his head
Father William balancing a snake on his nose
Alice and Caterpillar
Alice shrinking after eating from one side of the mushroom
Alice being a serpent to the pigeon
Alice watching the Duchess house
The Footmen
Alice and the Footman
Duchess holding the baby, with the cook and the cat
Pig and pepper lunacy
Alice and the pig baby
Pig baby running away
Colored illustration of the cook tossing pans at the duchess, that’s holding the crying baby, with a very concerned Alice, and a totally carefree Cheshire cat
Alice and the Cheshire Cat
The March Hare’s House
A Mad Tea Party
Alice interrupting the tea party, with the March Hare, Dormouse, and Mad Hatter
Some Tea Party Madness
The Hatter tormenting the Dormouse
Hatter and Dormouse
Three sisters down a treacle well
Again, the Dormouse gets bullied
Painting the Roses
The Gardners and Alice
Colored illustration of Alice crashing the Tea Party
Soldiers marching
The Queen having words with Alice
The White Rabbit chatting with Alice
Alice and the Flamingo
Cheshire cat conversing with the King and Alice
Off with his head!
Executioner and Gardner
The Mock Turtle’s story
The Duchess, uncomfortably close to Alice
Queen orders the Duchess
The Gryphon takes Alice to the Turtle
Turtle tells his story, sobbing
“Reeling and writhing, of course”
The Lobster Quadrille
Fish and snail
The dance
Alice tells her story
Owl and Panther, sharing a pie
Alice and Gryphon running
Who Stole the Tarts
The jury
The Trial
Hatter giving a testimony
Alice making an appearance at the trial
White Rabbit and the Royals
Knave of Hearts and the Royals
Knave of Hearts and the Queen
Bill the Lizard
Nothing, but a pack of cards
Alice wakes up
The End