Beschreibung:

DescriptionCarroll, Lewis [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson]Symbolic Logic. Part I. Elementary. London: Richard Clay and Sons, Limited for Macmillan and Co., 1896
8vo (169 x 116 mm). Inscribed on the half-title, printed errata slip presumably supplied from another copy and loosely inserted, numerous tables and diagrams throughout. Original smooth brown cloth over boards, cut flush, front cover lettered and ruled in black, in the original green printed wrappers; endpapers browned, front hinge a little loose, cloth lifting slightly at corners, some very mild fraying at edges, wrapper separated along front hinge and overall worn, stray stains to front panel, toned at spine panel. In a brown slipcase with folding chemise.
Pre-publication presentation copy, inscribed by the author two days before publication: "J. Bennie, with the Author's kind regards. Feb. 22, 1896." Dodgson, though acclaimed and best-remembered for his literary works, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, was also a notable logician. Of his ten books on mathematics and logic, this volume was his attempt to popularize the study of formal logic, endeavoring to do so through his extensive use of novel diagrams, which he hoped would illuminate the principles of syllogistic argumentation to laypeople. Dodgson "attached special value to this book if, as he hoped, it would lead to clearer judgments in people who thought at all and regarded it as 'work for God'" (WMGC, p. 195). 
The present copy was most likely inscribed to James Noble Bennie, vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester. Dodgson had met Bennie and his wife on holiday in Whitby shortly after the publication of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. They dined together with mutual friends, and of the meeting Mrs. Bennie later said:
I found on this occasion I had a very agreeable neighbour, and we seemed to be much interested in the same books, and politics also were touched on. After dinner my sister and brother rather took me to task for talking so much to a complete stranger. I said. "But it was quite a treat to talk to him and to hear him talk. Of one thing I am quite sure, he is a genius." My brother and sister, who had not heard him speak, again laughed at me, and said, "You are far too easily pleased." I, however, maintained my point, and said what great delight his conversation had given me, and how remarkably clever it had been. Next morning nurse took out our two little twin daughters in front of the sea. I went out a short time afterwards, looked for them, and found them seated with my friend of the table d'hôte between them, and they were listening to him, open-mouthed, and in the greatest state of enjoyment, with his knee covered with minute toys. I, seeing their great delight, motioned to him to go on; this he did for some time. A most charming story he told them about sea-urchins and Ammonites. When it was over, I said, "You must be the author of 'Alice's Adventures.'" He laughed, but looked astonished, and said, "My dear Madam, my name is Dodgson, and 'Alice's Adventures' was written by Lewis Carroll " I replied, "Then you must have borrowed the name, for only he could have told a story as you have just done." After a little sparring he admitted the fact, and I went home and proudly told my sister and brother how my genius had turned out a greater one than I expected. They assured me I must be mistaken, and that, as I had suggested it to him, he had taken advantage of the idea, and said he was what I wanted him to be. A few days after some friends came to Whitby who knew his aunts, and confirmed the truth of his statement, and thus I made the acquaintance of one whose friendship has been the source of great pleasure for nearly thirty years. He has most generously sent us all his books, with kind inscriptions, to [the children] ... (Collingwood).
The errata slip present here is presumably supplied from another copy, as the slips were printed on 24 February, and given the date of the inscription, the present copy was one of several sent to Dodgson by Macmillan prior to its publication date.
REFERENCE:Collingwood, Stuart Dodgson. The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll New York: The Century Co., 1899; Williams, Madan, Green and Crutch 270
PROVENANCE:James Noble Bennie (presentation inscription)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
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