Joel Birenbaum first encountered Alice in Wonderland in the 1960s, when he discovered 'The Annotated Alice' by Martin Gardner. That reading sparked a deep fascination. His actual journey as a collector began later, but a milestone came when he acquired the 1969 limited edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated and signed by Salvador Dalí. From that point on, he was drawn to extraordinary artistic interpretations of Carroll’s tale.
His collection has grown to include rare and modern editions, first editions, translations, and limited runs, but also ephemera, memorabilia, toys, dolls, art, and unusual objects. Among his most treasured pieces is a Cheshire Cat sculpture by Graham Piggott, modeled with Joel’s own face. Another highlight is a series of twenty-seven watercolor paintings by Dominic
Murphy, fifteen of which now line the staircase of his Carroll library, transforming it into a living gallery. But Joel is not only a collector. In the 1980s, he founded the Alice in Wonderland Collectors Network, which began as a simple exchange of lists sent through the mail. With the arrival of the internet, it became one of the largest collector communities in the world. Today, the Facebook group he administers brings together more than 13,000 members, from beginners to specialists, all united by their passion for Carroll’s creations. His taste in Alice illustrations is wide-ranging, but he is especially drawn to images that explore the dark side of Wonderland or present visions radically different from Tenniel’s.
For him, the value of an item is not just in rarity, but in the joy it brings and the connections it fosters with fellow collectors. Over the years, Joel has written for the Knight Letter, contributed to catalogs, co-curated shows, and helped bring to life the Alice 150 celebrations in New York City in 2015. Alice continues to spark his curiosity, and he still delights in finding new creations inspired by Wonderland. For Joel, collecting is about imagination, friendships, and keeping Carroll’s world alive across generations.
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