The real Alice in Wonderland's book under the hammer

A copy of the book Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There that belonged to the British girl who inspired author Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland will be sold at an auction next month, the company behind the sale said.

At its December 16 auction, Profiles in History will also sell a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit that belonged to its author, Beatrix Potter. The items come from the collection of former US professional football player Pat McInally, the auctioneer said.

Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, which belonged to the late Alice Liddell before it came into McInally's collection, has an estimated sales price of £90,000.

When she was 10 years-old in 1862, Alice Liddell went on a picnic with her neighbour, the Oxford mathematician Charles Dodgson, who wrote under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. He told her a story that later became the classic book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

His book Through the Looking Glass was a sequel.

Ms Potter's copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit is expected to sell for up to $120,000, Profiles in History said.

The auction, which focuses on children's literature, also includes a first edition copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and signed, limited edition copies of author A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.

The auction is expected to generate total sales of $1 million, said Profiles in History (www.profilesinhistory.com).