Through Looking-Glass first edition sells for $115,000

A first edition of Lewis Carroll's classic book Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There - dedicated to the real life Alice who inspired the story - was sold at a US auction for $115,000, auctioneers said yesterday.

Southern California-based Profiles in History said the book, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was the highlight of its children's literature sale on Wednesday.

Through the Looking Glass, published in 1871, includes the nonsense poem Jabberwocky.

Both works were inspired by 10 year-old Alice Liddell, the daughter of an academic friend of Carroll's.

The edition sold on Wednesday is inscribed in ink Alice Pleasance Liddell, and was described as having been presented to her by Carroll.

English author Beatrix Potter's personal copy of her work The Tale of Peter Rabbit was also sold at the auction, fetching $92,000.

Other highlights included a first edition soft-cover copy of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - described as one of only 200 such copies printed - which sold for $5,750.