G. W. Backhouse – Comic strip Alice

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_1_dust_jacket

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.
G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_1_dust_jacket
Dust jacket with Alice and the Royals, on the way to the Croquet game

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_2-hardcover-front
Front hard cover

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_3-Alice-Watching-Rabbit
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?!

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_4-Alice-Watching-Rabbit-colored
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.

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_5-title-page
Title page. Alice in Wonderland, G.W. Backhouse, Published by Collins, London and Glasgow.

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_6-contents
Chapters page, with the gardners and soldiers

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_7-illustrations-list
Colored illustrations list, with key Wonderland characters around

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_8-golden-afternoon
All in a Golden Afternoon, poem, with Dodgson, at the top, by the three Liddell sisters, and Wonderland characters around

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_9-golden-afternoon-2
Poem continues

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_10-down-the-rabbits-hole
The White Rabbit

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_11-Alice-falling
Alice falling down the Rabbits hole

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_12-Alice-Australia
Alice and Koalas

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_13-Alice-after-Rabbit.
Alice and the Rabbit

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_14-drink-me
Drink me

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_15-drink-me-2
Alice shrinking

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_16-pool-of-tears
Alice swimming in her pool of tears

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_17-Alice-growing
Alice growing

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_18-Alice-Rabbit
Alice after the White Rabbit

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_19-Crocodile
How Doth the Little Crocodile

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_20-Alice-and-mouse
Alice and mouse, swimming in her pool of tears

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_21-Alice-and-mouse-1
Alice and mouse

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_22-Alice-and-Animals
Alice and animals

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_23-caucus-race
A caucus race

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_24-mouses-tale
Mouse’s tale

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_25-dodo
Alice, the Dodo, and the rest of the caucus race animals

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_26-alice-and-dodo
Alice and Dodo

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_27-mouses-tale
Alice insults the mouse

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_28-alice-animals
Alice makes everyone uncomfortable with her ‘Dinah’ remarks

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_29-alice
Alice left all alone

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_30_Alice_Rabbit
Alice and Rabbit

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_31-alice-in-rabbits-house
Alice at the White Rabbit’s house

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_32-rabbitin-rabbits-house
White Rabbit going up the stairs

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_33-Alice-rabbit-hand
Alice terrorizing the neighborhood

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_34-bill-chimney
Bill the lizard, getting kicked out of the chimney

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_35-alice-in-rabbits-house
Alice eating cakes

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_36-alice-and-puppy
Alice and the puppy

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_37-alice-and-caterpillar
Alice and the Caterpillar

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_38-father-william-1.
Father William standing on his head

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_39-father-william-2
Father William balancing a snake on his nose

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_40-caterpillar-and-alice
Alice and Caterpillar

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_41-alice-shroom
Alice shrinking after eating from one side of the mushroom

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_42-pigeon
Alice being a serpent to the pigeon

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_43-march-hare-house
Alice watching the Duchess house

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_44-footmen
The Footmen

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_45-alice-footman
Alice and the Footman

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_46-duchess-baby-cook
Duchess holding the baby, with the cook and the cat

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_47-duchess-baby-cook-alice
Pig and pepper lunacy

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_48-pig-baby
Alice and the pig baby

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_49-pig-baby-alice
Pig baby running away

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_50-pig-and-pepper.
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

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_51-alice-and-cheshire
Alice and the Cheshire Cat

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_52-march-hare-house
The March Hare’s House

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_53-mad-tea-party
A Mad Tea Party

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_54-mad-tea-party-2
Alice interrupting the tea party, with the March Hare, Dormouse, and Mad Hatter

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_55-mad-tea-party-3.
Some Tea Party Madness

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_56-mad-tea-party-4.
The Hatter tormenting the Dormouse

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_57-mad-tea-party-5
Hatter and Dormouse

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_58-sisters-well
Three sisters down a treacle well

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_59-mad-tea-party-6
Again, the Dormouse gets bullied

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_60-painting-the-roses
Painting the Roses

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_61-painting-the-roses-1
The Gardners and Alice

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_62-mad-tea-party
Colored illustration of Alice crashing the Tea Party

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_63-soldiers
Soldiers marching

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_64-alice-and-queen
The Queen having words with Alice

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_65-alice-and-rabbit
The White Rabbit chatting with Alice

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_66-alice-flamingo
Alice and the Flamingo

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_67-alice-king-cheshire
Cheshire cat conversing with the King and Alice

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_68-executioner.
Off with his head!

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_69-executioner-2
Executioner and Gardner

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_70-mock-turtle
The Mock Turtle’s story

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_71-Alice-duchess
The Duchess, uncomfortably close to Alice

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_72-queen-Alice-duchess
Queen orders the Duchess

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_73-mock-turtle-gryphon-alice
The Gryphon takes Alice to the Turtle

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_74-mock-turtle-gryphon-alice-2
Turtle tells his story, sobbing

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_75-mock-turtle-story
“Reeling and writhing, of course”

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_76-lobster-quadrille
The Lobster Quadrille

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_77-lobster-quadrille-2
Fish and snail

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_78-lobster-quadrille-3.
The dance

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_79-alice-gryphon-turtle
Alice tells her story

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_80-leopard-owl
Owl and Panther, sharing a pie

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_81-alice-gryphon
Alice and Gryphon running

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_82-who-stole-the-tarts
Who Stole the Tarts

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_83-jury
The jury

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_84-trial
The Trial

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_85-hatter-tiral
Hatter giving a testimony

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_86-alice-at-trial
Alice making an appearance at the trial

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_87-trial
White Rabbit and the Royals

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_88-trial.
Knave of Hearts and the Royals

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_89-knave-queen
Knave of Hearts and the Queen

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_90-trial.
Bill the Lizard

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_91-pack-of-cards
Nothing, but a pack of cards

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_92-alice-awakes
Alice wakes up

G_W_Backhouse_Alice_in_Wonderland_93-Alice-the-end
The End



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