Three photographs of Alexandra Rhoda "Xie" Kitchin, one of author Lewis Carroll's favourite models, are being auctioned at Bonhams collectible books sale on June 8.
 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832- |
Alexandra was the daughter of the Dean of Durham who, for 15 years, also held a theological position at the University of Oxford where Carroll, a fellow of Christ Church, lectured in maths.
The three photos, captioned by Carroll himself, show Alexandra in Danish and Oriental costumes. A keen photographer, Carroll considered these to be among his best work.
They were given to Alexandra by Carroll's brother, William, when she got married together with a copy of a The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll, in which two of the photographs are reproduced.
It is significant, perhaps, that only these two photographs of Xie and a couple of Alice Liddell, the model for Alice in Wonderland, were selected for the book.
The photographs together with the inscribed copy of the book are estimated between £10,000-15,000.
 Alexandra Rhoda "Xie" Kitchin, photographed by Carroll |
Also in the sale is a copy of the first published edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The first print run was not distributed because of a dispute over reproduction quality and ended up being sold in America.
This copy will appear for sale at between £1,500-2,000.
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