Lewis Carroll originally illustrated Wonderland himself, but his artistic abilities were limited.
Engraver Orlando Jewitt, who had worked for Carroll in 1859 and had reviewed Carroll's drawings
for Wonderland, suggested that he employ a professional illustrator. Carroll was a regular
reader of Punch and was therefore familiar with Tenniel. In 1865 Tenniel, after long talks with Carroll,
illustrated the first edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

The first print run of 2,000 was sold in the United States, rather than England, because Tenniel
objected to the print quality. A new edition was released in December 1865, carrying an 1866 date, and
became an instant best-seller, increasing Tenniel's fame. His drawings for both books have become
some of the most famous literary illustrations. After 1872, when the Carroll projects were finished,
Tenniel largely abandoned literary illustration. Carroll did later approach Tenniel to undertake
another project for him. To this Tenniel replied:

It is a curious fact that with "Looking-Glass" the faculty of making drawings for book
illustrations departed from me, and [...] I have done nothing in that direction since.

Tenniel's illustrations for the Alice books were engraved onto blocks of deal wood by the
 Brothers Dalziel. These engravings were then used as masters for making the electrotype copies
for the actual printing of the books The original wood blocks are held in the collection of the
Bodleian Library in Oxford. They are not usually on public display, but were exhibited in 2003