Lewis Carroll, J.K. Rowling editions up for bid December 16

A large collection of children's literature, including a copy of
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There previously owned by the British girl who inspired the story, Beatrix Potter's personal copy of
The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and limited editions of the first four Harry Potter titles, will be up for auction December 16.

Owned by Pat McInally, former American National Football League player, the collection will be auctioned by Southern California auctioneer Profiles in History. Two copies of Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There are among the titles - one with a pair of original pencil drawings and another signed by Alice Liddell, who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. That title has an estimated sales price of $150,000, and Potter's copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit is expected to sell for up to $120,000.

First editions up for bid include Stuart Little signed by E.B. White, The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, Watership Down by Richard Adams, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Mother Goose in Prose by L. Frank Baum. Also up for bid: limited edition copies of Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner signed by A.A. Milne , and a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe accompanied by a letter written and signed by C.S. Lewis.

Non-children's titles of interest include a first edition of The Time Machine signed by H.G. Wells, and first editions of four James Bond stories by Ian Fleming.

Bids will be accepted by mail, fax, and in person, or online through icollector.com. For those in the California area, the collection can be previewed from December 2 to 15 at Profiles in History; otherwise, visit the auction house's website for a full catalog.

http://www.profilesinhistory.com