WILDE, Oscar; BEARDSLEY, Aubrey (illus).Biblio.com
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1894185053London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane 1894. A sublime production by the enfants terribles of Victorian Britain First edition in English the first to feature Beardsley's elegant art nouveau illustrations. "If Le Morte Darthur made Beardsley known his designs for the first edition in English of Wilde's Salomé made him notorious and it remains the book of which most people think when his name is mentioned" Ray. Salomé was published in French in 1893. This English translation by Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas was published the following year in a run of 500 trade copies as here and 100 on large paper. The premiere took place on 11 February 1896 at the Comédie-Parisienne; the Lord Chamberlain cited Protestant Reformation laws banning religious plays to restrict the public staging in Britain. An opera version was sanctioned for performance in 1910 though the play itself had to be staged privately until the first public performance at the Savoy Theatre in 1931. Small quarto. Frontispiece illustrated title list of illustrations pages 9 plates and tailpiece all by Beardsley; publisher's unopened 16-page advertisements at end. Original blue canvas boards spine lettered in gilt decorations designed by Beardsley to covers in gilt edges untrimmed. Cloth slightly rubbed gutter cracked between a couple of gatherings a couple of plates discreetly reinserted. A very good copy. Mason 350; Ray 315A. hardcover
1888170816London: David Nutt 1888. If you want a red rose. you must build it out of music by moonlight and stain it with your own heart's-blood First edition of Wilde's first and best-known collection of children's stories including "The Selfish Giant" "The Nightingale and the Rose" "The Devoted Friend" and "The Remarkable Rocket". Wilde's "reputation as an author dated from the publication of the Happy Prince and Other Tales in London in May 1888. The Athenaeum compared him to Hans Christian Andersen and Pater wrote to say that 'The Selfish Giant' was 'perfect in its kind' and the whole book written in 'pure English' - a wonderful compliment" Ellmann p. 282. Small quarto. Frontispiece with tissue guard and 2 plates by Walter Crane 12 head- and tailpieces by Jacomb Hood. Original cream paper-covered boards spine lettered in black front cover lettered in red with vignette design in black and publisher's device in red. Head of spine lightly worn boards rubbed a couple of bumps to extremities short split to front inner hinge endpapers and outer leaves lightly foxed contents otherwise clean and unmarked. A very good copy of this fragile production. Mason 313 "1000 copies". Richard Ellmann Oscar Wilde 1987. hardcover
1894282902London: John Lane 1894. Limited. hardcover. very good. Tall 8vo lavender cloth faded to tan with gilt designs considerably browned on the spine and edges; pages untrimmed London: John Lane 1894. Limited First Edition.<br/> <br/> Mason 365. One of only 50 copies printed simultaneously with the first trade edition. Internally fine and clean.<br/> <br/> John Lane unknown
1898282548London: Smithers 1898. First. hardcover. very good. Slim 8vo mustard cloth backed in white with gilt lettering. London: Leonard Smithers 1898. Limited First Edition.<br/> <br/> One of 800 copies printed on hand-made paper on one side only. Inscribed on title page; "I.O. from F.A.S. Guilsborough Hall." A very good copy with some bubbling of the cloth and light soil. Irene Osgood later the wife of R.H. Sherard author of the life of Oscar Wilde was a novelist. This book was given to her by Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham Preserved in an attractive1/4 leather slipcase with an elaborately gilt spine.<br/> <br/> Smithers unknown
1909130510London: Methuen 1909-10. The works of Oscar Wilde. Octavo 13 volumes bound in three quarters morocco gilt titles and tooling to the spine raised bands top edge gilt. In near fine condition. Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright novelist essayist and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He is remembered for his epigrams his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray his plays as well as the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death. Methuen hardcover
1908139028London: Methuen & Co Ltd./Paris: Charles Carrington 1908-1922. Complete set of the works of Oscar Wilde including For Love of a King issued in 1922 and often missing from this set. Octavo 15 volumes in the publisher's original gilt-decorated full buckram top edge gilt with others uncut. One of 1000 copies issued on handmade paper. The Picture of Dorian Gray bears the imprint of Charles Carrington of Paris while the rest bear Methuen and Co. In near fine condition. Very rare with the inclusion of the 15th volume. Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright novelist essayist and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He is remembered for his epigrams his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray his plays as well as the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death. Methuen & Co, Ltd./Paris: Charles Carrington hardcover
1943156715Beverly Hills CA: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer MGM 1943. Draft script for the 1945 film. Copy belonging to an unknown crew member with their manuscript annotations in pencil on several pages. <br /> <br /> Based on the 1890 novel by Oscar Wilde about a man whose portrait magically takes on the ability to absorb the sins of his debauched life while he remains unaged. Nominated for three Academy Awards winning one for Best Cinematography. <br /> <br /> Set in London. <br /> <br /> Goldenrod studio wrappers rubber-stamped FILE COPY and COMPLETE on the front wrapper noted as copy No. 67 and production No. 5069 dated 11-5-43 with credits for director Albert Lewin. Title page integral with the first page of the text. 168 leaves with last page of text numbered 169. Mimeograph duplication rectos only with a single pink revision page dated 3-13-44. Pages about Near Fine wrapper Good only with a tear on the bottom right portion of the front wrapper and rear wrapper split from the binding bound with two gold brads. <br /> <br /> Selby US. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [MGM] unknown
1910320658New York: Nottingham 1910. Limited. hardcover. fine. 10 volumes. Thick 8vo finely bound in recent 3/4 dark green morocco with twin burgundy spine labels decoratively gilt spines raised bands and marbled boards top edges gilt deckled edges. New York: Nottingham Society circa 1910. Fine.<br/> <br/> Deluxe Edition Number 832 of of 1000 sets.<br/> <br/> Nottingham unknown
189421246961894. London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane. 1894. Small 4to. Original blue-green woven cloth gilt designs after Beardsley blocked to boards spine lettered in gilt fore- and tail-edges uncut; pp. x 67 1 14 advertisements 2 10 plates including frontispiece illustrated title-page contents page and tailpiece by Aubrey Beardsley printed on glazed paper from line blocks engraved by Carl Hentschel; a few chips to joints and corners small loss to head of spine affecting 2 letters of gilt text spine sunned; internally very clean; a very good copy; bookplate of William Forbes Morgan 1841-1916 to front pastedown.First English edition of Wilde's one-act tragedy the first with Beardsley's illustrations four of which contain caricatures of Oscar Wilde one of only 500 copies translated by and dedicated to Wilde's lover Lord Alfred Douglas.Salome was written in French in late 1891 while Wilde was staying in Paris and accepted for production by Sarah Bernhardt at the London Opera House in 1892. However the Lord Chamberlain prohibited performances because of a ban on Biblical figures being presented on stage an outcome that understandably incensed Wilde. It was finally published in French in 1893 and then in this translation in 1894. Translating the nuances of Wilde's original text written in an idiosyncratic French has been acknowledged as a Herculean task by all those who have attempted it including Beardsley. Even though Wilde himself assisted Douglas the author and the translator nearly came to blows: 'Wilde immediately complained of Douglas's sloppy schoolboy French and an infuriated Douglas blamed any faults upon the original. He and Wilde nearly split over the disagreements and Robbie Ross - doubtless to his later regret - made peace between them that Fall' Daniel. Though Wilde tried to fix some of the errors Douglas raged when he did and wrote to the publishers that September 'as I cannot consent to have my work altered and edited and thus to become a mere machine for doing the rough work of translation I have decided to relinquish the affair altogether.' Daniel. Nevertheless their relationship recovered and the translation has since become the text most familiar to Anglophone audiences. Steven Berkoff used the Douglas translation for his critically acclaimed Salome at the National Theatre in 1988 with all its archaisms and errors unabridged.Sadly Wilde never saw the play produced. Its only performance during his lifetime was a one-off presentation at the Theatre de la Comedie-Parisienne on 11 February 1896 by which time he was already in prison. It was not performed publicly in Britain until 1931.Mason 350; Ross 'Later Work' 86; Samuels Lasner 59. See Daniel 'Lost In Translation: Oscar Bosie and Salome' Princeton University Library Chronicle 2007. hardcover
1899182434London: Leonard Smithers and Co 1899. An unusual binding First edition number 373 of 1000 copies. This copy is in a contemporary vellum binding in a style that was popular at the end of the nineteenth century similar to those produced by both the Kelmscott Press and the Riccardi Press. This copy was part of the standard issue in cloth; a further 100 signed large paper copies and 12 signed copies on japon were produced. Wilde's last play opened to great acclaim on Valentine's Day 1895 but was withdrawn after Wilde's failed libel suit against Lord Queensbury led to his arrest in April of that year. The play was not published in book form until February 1899 after Wilde's release from prison. Quarto 210 x 155 mm. Contemporary limp vellum spine lettered in gilt green silk ties top edge gilt others untrimmed. Natural variation to vellum light foxing mostly to edges. A very good copy. Mason 381. hardcover
1899186847London: Leonard Smithers and Co 1899. Wilde's greatest play in the original cloth First edition out of series from an issue of 1000 numbered copies. Wilde's last play opened to great acclaim on Valentine's Day 1895 but was withdrawn after Wilde's failed libel suit against Lord Queensbury led to his arrest in April of that year. It was not published in book form until February 1899 after Wilde's release from prison. The play was published in a standard issue of 1000 unsigned copies 100 signed large paper copies and 12 signed copies on japon. Quarto. Original pink cloth spine lettered in gilt stylised leaf motifs by Charles Shannon in gilt to spine and covers edges uncut and untrimmed. Spine toned and a little bumped nick to head of spine occasional foxing mostly to outer leaves. A very good copy. Mason 381. hardcover
1926329075Paris: F.-L Schmied 1926. Limited. hardcover. near fine. Color woodcuts and decorations by Francois-Louis Schmied printed by hand. 4to full black crushed morocco spine faded to brown with gold & silver art deco design; full gray leather doublures pictorially stamped in gilt & blind with a singing bird; gray silk fly-leaves by Gonin. Paris: F.-L Schmied 1926. Limited Edition. Fine in a leather tipped marbled board slipcase.<br/> <br/> French translation by Albert Savine of Wilde's The Happy Prince and the Nightingale and the Rose. Number VII of XII copies de collaborateurs signed by the artist.<br/> <br/> F.-L Schmied unknown
1899ST19154London: Leonard Smithers and Co 1899. FIRST EDITION. ONE OF 1000 COPIES. 215 x 155 mm. 8 3/8 x 6". 8 p.l. 213 1 pp. <br/> Original lavender cloth decorated with gilt flourishes smooth spine with gilt lettering edges untrimmed and ENTIRELY UNOPENED. Mason 385. ◆Spine slightly sunned as virtually always but no wear to joints or hinges and in all A REMARKABLY WELL-PRESERVED OBVIOUSLY UNREAD COPY because unopened and without the soiling this edition is almost always found with.<br/> <br/> This is an exceptionally fine copy of Wilde's second hit play successful like his other witty comedies but with at least slightly more serious social and political content. Opening at the Haymarket Theatre in 1895 and continuing for 124 performances it features as the title character a prominent politician in danger of losing his reputation because of a potentially damaging letter that the play's villain threatens to expose if the husband refuses to support the former's corrupt political agenda. The play moves its characters toward a more ideal moral standard as they struggle with dishonesty hypocrisy double standards materialism and corruption of social and political life. But none of this weighs down Wilde's witty banter as the play suggests after all that even when there is a pretense of the embrace of moral probity nobody is ever that good or is even expected to be. The work is dedicated to the Irish-American writer Frank Harris who is said to have given Wilde the idea to use insider trading which related to Disraeli's financial machinations as part of the plot here. Covering the play for the "Saturday Review" George Bernard Shaw declared Wilde 1854-1900 "our only thorough playwright. He plays with everything: with wit with philosophy with drama with actors and audience with the whole theatre." On nearly all copies of this edition the publisher's binding is now encountered in unappetizing condition; finding our unopened copy--with virtually none of the soiling almost always seen with the four Wilde plays bound in this lavender cloth--is piece of very good fortune. Leonard Smithers and Co unknown
18991300991899. First Edition. WILDE Oscar. An Ideal Husband. London: Leonard Smithers and Co. 1899. Octavo original lavender cloth gilt uncut; housed in a custom chemise and slipcase. $4800.Limited first edition one of 1000 unnumbered copies a very nice copy in original decorative cloth designed by Charles Shannon.Wilde's play premiered in January 1895 to an audience that included the Prince of Wales and was an immediate success. Four months later Wilde was in disgrace following his arrest for soliciting homosexual acts and his name was removed from the play's marquee similarly it appears nowhere in this edition. The play closed shortly thereafter and did not appear in print until this first edition. Mason 385. Text about-fine cloth spine with slight fading small mark near base. An extremely good copy. hardcover
41901Berlin: Guido Moriell 1991. Limited edition. Hardcover. Fine condition. Signed by the artist on each etching and colophon. A15/50. Small Folio. 55 1pp. Original hand bound blue Morocco with geometric cover design by bookbinder Guido Moriell and black-stamped lettering on spine housed in blue cloth clamshell box with gilt lettering on spine. Every binding of the deluxe edition is a unique copy. Includes the video documenting the production of this anniversary edition housed in separate compartment of clamshell box as issued. <br /> <br /> Bibliophile edition on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the bookbinder Guido Moriell Radolfzell released in two Deluxe Editions A and B of 50 copies each and a standard edition of 100. This is No. 15 of the deluxe edition A printed on handmade paper. With 10 signed and hand colored original etchings by Rudolf Stuckert printed on the hand press of the artist. Top edge blue. Blue shaded endpapers. Blue initials. Text revised by John Loram based on the translation by Wilhelm Cremer 1922. Beautiful hand press production on firm handmade paper by the Steinort paper mill. An artistic masterpiece of modern hand press printing and bookbinding. Rudolf Stuckert 1912–2002 was a German painter and gallerist. He studied at the Academies in Kassel and Düsseldorf and was a master student of Oskar Moll. Stuckert opened his first gallery in 1936 in Düsseldorf with an exhibitions of Bruno Goller. In 1949 Stuckert became a cofounder of the New Rhine Secession Neue Rheinische Sezession in Düsseldorf. He had moved to Lake Constance in 1947 where he became a cofounder of the artist group "Der kleine Kreis" and was considered one of the so-called Höri-Painters. His paintings are an interplay of figurative and abstract elements. Landscapes ballplayers and acrobats are his favorite motifs.<br /> <br /> Guido Moriell is a film enthusiast and bookbinder in Radolfzell Lake Constance. In 2008 his work as a bookbinder was featured in the prestigious exhibition "Kunst des Bucheinbandes Art of Bookbinding" at the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar. Emphasis of the exhibition was the bookbinding in historic fashion showing a video of Guido Moriell at work as an example of traditional bookbinding. Guido Moriell hardcover
189916609JLondon: Leonard Smithers 1899. First Edition. Bookplate of noted writer and book collector Carroll Atwood Wilson. Laid in this copy are two printed in-house reports sheets from the Theatre Royal Haymarket from the play’s first run of 124 performances. Handwritten in ink are the sums tallying the box office receipts for the 93rd and 94th performances of An Ideal Husband on March 23 1895. The matinee brought in 82 pounds and the evening performance totaled 144 pounds. Remarkably this copy still has the pages unopened and intact. Slight chipping at top of spine else very good. Leonard Smithers unknown
06518London: Leonard Smithers and Co. 1899. The Trivial Comedy for Serious People - Wilde's Masterpiece"<br /> First Edition One of 1000 Numbered Copies<br /> <br /> WILDE Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. By the Author of Lady Windermere's Fan. London: Leonard Smithers and Co. 1899.<br /> <br /> First edition. One of 1000 numbered copies this being No. 256. Printed at the Chiswick Press.<br /> <br /> Small quarto 8 3/4 x 7 inches; 222 x 178 mm. 16 151 1 pp.<br /> <br /> Publisher's light red-brown linen over boards covers decoratively stamped in gilt spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt the design by Charles Shannon. All edges uncut. The bare minimum of rubbing to extremities free endpapers minimally browned from paste-down glue as usual; spine slightly darkened and gilt a little dulled. Still a near fine copy sound and unrestored example. <br /> <br /> The first book appearance of Wilde's most celebrated play originally performed in 1895 at the St. James's Theatre. Issued four years later by Smithers - Wilde's principal publisher during and after his fall - this edition presents the definitive text of his final and finest comedy.<br /> <br /> The Importance of Being Earnest represents the culmination of Wilde's dramatic art: a perfectly constructed satire of identity social convention and moral pretense combining epigrammatic brilliance with unmatched theatrical economy.<br /> <br /> The edition is notable for its elegant production including the Chiswick Press printing and the distinctive gilt cover design by Charles Shannon placing it among the most visually refined of Wilde's first editions.<br /> Bibliographical Reference<br /> <br /> A pleasing and well-preserved example. The slight spine darkening and mellowing of the gilt are typical; copies retaining such integrity are increasingly scarce.<br /> <br /> Mason 382. London: Leonard Smithers and Co., 1899 unknown
196869253London: Petersburg Press 1968. DINE Jim. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Petersburg Press 1968.<br> <br> Full Description:<br> <br> WILDE Oscar. DINE Jim artist. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Petersburg Press 1968.<br> <br> Limited edition signed and numbered by the artist Jim Dine on the limitation page in green ink. This being number 11 of 200 in Edition B. Folio 17 3/8 x 12 1/4 inches; 440 x 310 mm. Complete with frontispiece and twelve lithographs in color with a set of an additional 4 loose lithographs issued in a portfolio each annotated "Edition B" on the reverse and numbered 11/200 and signed by the artist in pencil on the front lower margin.<br> <br> Original full green velvet boards. Front board lettered in silver. Pictorial patterned endpapers. Housed in a black cloth slipcase. With additional black cloth portfolio. Cloth portfolio with a small split at top of hinge. A fine copy.<br> <br> "A working script for the stage from the novel by Oscar Wilde with original images and notes on the text by Jim Dine" From the title page.<br> <br> "The original colour lithographs etchings and text pages comprising this book were prepared on zinc and aluminum plates by the artist at Bath Academy of Art Corsham ini February 1968; and subsequently printed on Velin Arches at the Atelier Desjobert and Atelier Leblanc in Paris." Colophon<br> <br> HBS 69253.<br> <br> $4500. Petersburg Press unknown
06423London: Methuen & Co. 1908. First Collected Edition<br /> Handsomely Bound by Birdsall of Northampton<br /> <br /> WILDE Oscar. Works. London: Methuen & Co. 1908-1922. The Picture of Dorian Gray with imprint: Paris: Charles Carrington 1908.<br /> <br /> First collected edition including For the Love of the King which was published in 1922. <br /> <br /> One of 1000 issued on handmade paper out of a total edition of 1080 sets.<br /> <br /> Fifteen octavo volumes 8 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches; 209 x 146 mm. <br /> <br /> Handsomely bound ca. 1950 by Birdsall of Northampton and London stamp-signed in full light blue calf covers with triple ruled borders spines with five shallow raised bands decoratively tooled in compartments two red leather labels lettered in gilt gilt decorated boards edges and turn-ins pale blue marbled endpapers top edge gilt other uncut. Spines uniformly faded one volume a little less so otherwise a very fine set including the fifteenth volume For the Love of the King which was published later in 1922. <br /> <br /> The first collected edition of the works of Wilde is still the most complete and correct. "The text is taken in most instances from the last editions issued under the superintendence of the author. In some cases the volumes contain additional matter which had not previously been reprinted while some of the volumes contain matter here published for the first time" Mason.<br /> <br /> Oscar Wilde 1854-1900 Irish-born poet dramatist and novelist. "During his undergraduate years at Oxford and as a disciple of Walter Pater Wilde became the leader of an aesthetic movement that advocated art for art's sake. He attracted a great deal of attention with his aestheticism and by wearing long hair dressing eccentrically and carrying flowers in his hands while lecturing.Wilde was accused of homosexual practices was tried and found guilty and was sentenced to imprisonment 1895-97.On his release physically spiritually and financially ruined he went to Paris.where he lived in bitterness and despair until his death. Wilde's works include Poems 1881; two collections of fairy stories The Happy Prince and Other Tales 1888 and The House of Pomegranates 1891; The Picture of Dorian Gray 1891 a novel; and many brilliantly witty plays including Lady Windermere's Fan 1892; A Woman of No Importance 1893; Salomé 1894 written originally in French and used as the basis for Richard Strauss's opera of the same title; An Ideal Husband 1895; and The Importance of Being Earnest 1895 often considered his masterpiece. His poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol 1898 and his impassioned letter to his lover Lord Alfred Douglas De Profundis published post-humously in 1905 were products of his imprisonment" Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia.<br /> <br /> Mason pp. 459-460. London: Methuen & Co., 1908 unknown
109536London Leonard Smithers 1898. . First edition one of 800 copies on handmade paper from a total edition of 830; 8vo; ownership inscription to front free endpaper some age-toning to edges endpapers browned as often; publisher's white linen-backed cinnamon cloth gilt lettering to spine spine slightly rolled and darkened light soiling to boards slight rubbing to corners and spine ends else very good.<br /> First edition limited to just 800 copies on handmade paper with a further 30 copies on Japanese Vellum. <br /><br />The poem was composed following Wilde's release from the titular prison and published under the pseudonym 'C.3.3.' after his cell the third cell on the third landing of Gallery C. Wilde had been incarcerated in Reading after being convicted of gross indecency in 1895 and sentenced to two years' hard labour in prison. The first edition sold out within a week resulting in a second edition being published soon after yet it was not commonly known until the 7th printing in June 1899 that C.3.3. was actually Wilde.<br /> Mason 371. London, Leonard Smithers, 1898. hardcover
49916Patrons' Edition De Luxe. New York : Doubleday Page and Company 1923. Twelve volumes octavo finely bound in contemporary half crushed morocco over buckram ruled in gilt spines in compartments with raised bands ruled and lettered in gilt with sunflower motif top edges gilt other edges uncut pagination various with introductions by W. B. Yeats and others a handsome set. Includes Wilde's most famous works: The Picture of Dorian Gray Lady Windermere's Fan The Importance of Being Earnest Salome The Ballad of Reading Gaol as well as Wilde's stories poems and essays. A very attractive set in handsome bindings. hardcover
190768900London and New York: A. R. Keller & Co 1907. Full Description:<br> <br> WILDE Oscar. The Writings of Oscar Wilde. London and New York: A. R. Keller & Co. 1907.<br> <br> The University Edition of the Uniform Edition. One of 800 numbered copies this being number 15. Complete in fifteen octavo volumes 8 x 5 1/2 inches; 205 x 140 mm. Illustrated with plates in black and white each with a descriptive tissue guard. Title and limitation pages on Japanese vellum printed in black and red with additional engraved title pages in each volume.<br> <br> Half red morocco over green cloth. Spines stamped and lettered in gilt. Top edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Spines uniformly a bit darkened. Some minor occasional rubbing the worst of it to the top edge of "Lady Windemere's Fan." Still a near fine set.<br> <br> The Uniform Edition comprises the Edition De Luxe of 200 copies. the Oxford edition of 250 copies and the University Edition present copy of 800 copies. This very early edition precedes the 1908 Ross edition of Wilde's works often described as the first collected edition.<br> <br> HBS 68900.<br> <br> $4250. A. R. Keller & Co unknown
190564534Paris: S. n. Charles Carrington 1905. Fine. S. n. Charles Carrington Paris 1905 14.50 x 22.50 cm relié Poems in Prose No publisher Charles Carrington Paris 1905 14.5 x 22.5 cm contemporary full morocco First edition one of 50 numbered copies on Japon paper the only grands papiers deluxe copies. Burgundy morocco binding spine in five compartments set with black fillets gilt heraldic eagle at the bottom heraldic coat of arms stamped in the centre of the boards endpapers with geometric motifs bordered with a burgundy morocco strip on the inner covers gilt top edge contemporary binding signed by Creuzevault. Some small foxing on the endpapers and some very fine tears in the margin of the final endpapers. Beautiful copy nicely bound. S. n.[ Charles Carrington] hardcover
1894182536London: John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head 1894. Mr Oscar Wilde is not in the house First edition one of 500 trade copies. The play's opening show was met with applause for the actors and boos for the playwright causing Wilde to announce from behind a curtain "Ladies and gentlemen I regret to inform you that Mr Oscar Wilde is not in the house" Ellmann p. 381. Wilde's opulent production used "the market forces of luxury dressmaking to comment upon the worlds of his Haymarket patrons. Audiences in the stalls and boxes continued to be both flattered and vexed by the antics of their on-stage doubles while viewers in the upper galleries enjoyed the additional spectacle of fashionable Society catching its likeness in Wilde's cunningly set mirrors" Kaplan p. 252. The play premiered at Haymarket Theatre on 19 April 1893 and ran until 16 August for 113 performances. A further 50 large paper copies were also issued. Small quarto. Publisher's 16-page catalogue dated March 1894 at rear. Original pink linen with gilt floral decorations by Charles Shannon spine lettered in gilt fore and bottom edges untrimmed. Housed in a custom green cloth slipcase and chemise. Faint marks and fading to spine ends slightly bumped cloth lightly rubbed contents toned as usual. A very good copy. Mason 364. Richard Ellmann Oscar Wilde 1988; Joel Kaplan "Wilde on the Stage" in Peter Raby ed. The Cambridge Companion to Oscar Wilde 1997. hardcover
1898162864London: Leonard Smithers 1898. Written from exile in France First and limited edition one of 800 unnumbered copies printed on handmade paper; a further 30 copies on japon were also issued. Wilde published this work under the pseudonym "C.3.3." after his cell in Reading Gaol the third cell on the third landing of Gallery C. The first edition sold out rapidly and a second edition was printed within weeks. Octavo. Original white quarter cloth spine lettered in gilt yellow cloth sides fore and bottom edges untrimmed. Housed in a custom pink morocco backed slipcase and chemise. Bookplate of Douglass Cooper to front pastedown. Spine ends bumped a little soiling to cloth endpapers lightly browned and foxed else a near-fine copy in unusually nice condition. Mason 371. hardcover
