Wilde OscarABAA
303 résultats
1894256986London: John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head in Vigo Street 1894. First edition one of 50 Large Paper copies. 154 1 pp. Printed by T. and A. Constable Edinburgh. 1 vols. 4to. Original buckram gilt. Spine and extremities darkened endleaves with some paste darkening else fine in a custom purple half-morocco slipcase and chemise. First edition one of 50 Large Paper copies. 154 1 pp. Printed by T. and A. Constable Edinburgh. 1 vols. 4to. Large Paper Copy One of 50. An attractive large paper copy. Wilde's witty and urbane satire of the English upper class. This was written and produced in 1893 near the height of Wilde's career between Salome 1891 and his masterpiece The Importance of Being Ernest 1895. Mason 365. Provenance: Arthur Chester Rhodes John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head in Vigo Street unknown books
1894OW018London: John Lane at the Sign of The Bodley Head 1894 First edition one of 50 large-paper copies printed on handmade paper. Original publisher's yellow buckram boards with gilt decorations by Charles Shannon to covers and spine spine lettered in gilt. Covers toned along outer margin spine toned only the slightest trace of rubbing to the extremities former owner bookplate to front pastedown and light offsetting to endpapers. A very good tight and clean copy. An extremely scarce book in the large-paper format. Mason 365. A Woman of No Importance was published simultaneously in two formats: small octavo the standard edition of 500 copies and quarto the "Large Paper" issue of 50 copies. While both constitute the first edition of A Woman of No Importance the large paper copies are decidedly rarer than the octavos; intended to be more exclusive and deluxe publications large paper formats were typically produced using higher quality materials lacked the publisher's advertisements and were printed in small print runs. Because they were intended as collectibles from publication large paper copies of Wilde's plays are exceedingly scarce. A Woman of No Importance is a four-act play that was first produced in London at the Haymarket Theatre on April 19 1893. Like many of Wilde's plays it satirizes the English upper-class and criticizes Victorian society. The title "a woman of no importance" refers to the character Mrs. Arbuthnot who bears the illegitimate son of Lord Illingworth. Although societal conventions deem her a sinful woman Wilde proves Arbuthnot a respectable widow who is rewarded with a son who treats women respectfully. In contrast Illingworth one of Wilde's archetypal dandy figures is rejected by his son and may of the women in the play making him a "man of no importance.". First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine. Illus. by Shannon Charles. London: John Lane at the Sign of The Bodley Head hardcover books
1899295434London: Smithers 1899. Limited. hardcover. very good. 16 214 pages. Square 8vo original lavender cloth with gilt decorations on covers uncut edges. London: Leonard Smithers 1899. Limited First Edition. Some minor soiling & bubbling on the cover but still a very good internally clean copy of this exceedingly rare book.<br/><br/> One of Wilde's most frequently produced plays. Number 41 of only 100 large-paper copies signed by Wilde. Preserved in a 1/4 leather clam-shell case.<br/><br/> Smithers unknown books
1899281517London: Smithers 1899. Limited. hardcover. very good. 16 214 pages. Square 8vo original lavender cloth with gilt decorations on covers uncut edges. London: Leonard Smithers 1899. Limited First Edition. Some fading soiling & shelf-wear on the binding; old heraldic bookplate on end-paper which has offset onto front flyleaf still a very good clean copy of this exceedingly rare book.<br/><br/> One of Wilde's most frequently produced plays. Number 38 of only 100 large-paper copies signed by Wilde.<br/><br/> Smithers unknown books
189912241JLondon: Leonard Smithers 1899. First Edition. One of 1000 numbered copies. Original lavender gilt-stamped and decorated cloth. Ownership inscription and bookplates of Chauncey Lawrence Williams and Scott Cunningham on the front pastedown. A little trace of sunning to spine with some rubbing near bottom of spine some dust-soiling to the boards else a very good copy. Leonard Smithers hardcover books
189996121London: Leonard Smithers and Co 1899. First signed limited edition of Wilde's classic comedic stage play. Octavo original lavender publisher's cloth with gilt titles to the spine and gilt flourishes to the spine and front panel. One of 100 large paper copies signed by Oscar Wilde this is number 85. In near fine condition with a touch of toning. A superior example. Wilde's play premiered in January 1895 to an audience that included the Prince of Wales and was an immediate success. Together with The Importance of Being Earnest An Ideal Husband is often considered Wilde's dramatic masterpiece. After Earnest it is his most popularly produced play. It has been adapted to film several times first in 1935 most recently in 1999 starring Julianne Moore Minnie Driver Cate Blanchett and Rupert Everett. Leonard Smithers and Co hardcover books
189916085London: Leonard Smithers and Co 1899. First edition signed limited edition. Octavo original lavender publisher's cloth. One of 100 large paper copies signed by Oscar Wilde. In very good condition with some light rubbing and darkening to the extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Wilde's play premiered in January 1895 to an audience that included the Prince of Wales and was an immediate success. Together with The Importance of Being Earnest An Ideal Husband is often considered Wilde's dramatic masterpiece. After Earnest it is his most popularly produced play. It has been adapted to film several times first in 1935 most recently in 1999 starring Julianne Moore Minnie Driver Cate Blanchett and Rupert Everett. Mason 385. Leonard Smithers and Co hardcover books
1898183426London: Murdoch & Co 1898. Pamphlet. 16p. first separate appearance plain printed softbound stapled as issued in textured buff wraps. Covers are split along the spinefold and detached and show mild dust- and handling-soil; the single staple is rusted without significant migration. Text is clean except for earlier booksellers' notes on titlepage. As is; should be quite amenable to restoration. This letter originally appeared in "The Daily Chronicle" on May 28 1897 and is here reprinted with an additional publisher's note; Wilde's name appears at the end of the letter not in the titling. Murdoch & Co unknown books
1898WRCLIT69507London: Murdoch & Company 1898. 16pp. Printed wrappers. Early cellotape backing along wrapper spine a bit dusty otherwise about very good. First printing in booklet form of Wilde's letter about the Warder Martin case first published in THE DAILY CHRONICLE on 28 May 1897 - Martin had been dismissed as warder at Reading Prison for having shown kindness and giving food to a hungry child prisoner. The publisher included a prefatory note to this printing of the text seeking relief and assistance for Martin who was at that time still unemployed. The text was later reprinted with similar documents in DE PROFUNDIS. MASON/MILLARD 26. Murdoch & Company unknown books
1891WRCLIT61926New York: Dodd Mead 1891. Rose cloth over boards lettered in yellow top edge stained brown. Spine a trifle darkened with some hand-smudging to cloth small nick at crown of spine but a very good copy. An American issue of the British sheets. Mason/Millard was unable to examine a copy of the American issue of the first edition sheets but describes a literal date in the title-imprint in a binding of the same color of cloth as this copy with the same overall dimensions. However the American issue of the second London edition does bear a literal date 1894 in the title imprint and is bound in tan cloth. Hence the copy in hand is most likely not a variant of the American issue of the second edition and may very well be the American issue of the first edition sheets 600 copies at variance from Mason/Millard's speculative description. With the pencil ownership inscription of American publisher Ingalls Kimball dated Chicago August 1894. MASON/MILLARD 343. Dodd, Mead hardcover books
1891BB17290London: James R. Osgood McIlvaine & Co. 1891. First Edition. Hardcover. Fair. 8vo. Rebound in plain olive cloth leather spine label lettered in gilt. 258 pp. Title page and premilinary blanks detached. Sold as is. <br/><br/> James R. Osgood McIlvaine & Co. hardcover books
1891145251891. London: James R. Osgood McIlvaine & Co. 1891. Original yellow-green cloth decorated in gilt.<br/><br/> First Edition of this group of four essays on literature art society and criticism -- which consisted of 900 copies plus 600 printed for America with the Dodd Mead imprint. Published just a week after Wilde's only novel THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY INTENTIONS precedes all of his famous plays which came out during the span 1893-1899. In the opening essay Wilde laments the "decay of Lying as an art a science and a social pleasure." He takes to task modern literary realists like Henry James and Émile Zola for their "monstrous worship of facts" and stifling of the imagination. What makes art wonderful he says is that it is "absolutely indifferent to fact." The next essay "Pen Pencil and Poison" is a fascinating literary appreciation of the life of Thomas Griffiths Wainewright a talented painter art critic antiquarian friend of Charles Lamb and — murderer. The heart of the collection is the long two-part essay titled "The Critic as Artist." In one memorable passage after another Wilde goes to great lengths to show that the critic is every bit as much an artist as the artist himself in some cases more so. A good critic is like a virtuoso interpreter. Finally in "The Truth of Masks" Wilde returns to the theme of art as artifice and creative deception. This essay focuses on the use of masks disguises and costume in Shakespeare Goodreads. Charles Ricketts created the Fin-de-Siècle binding design and lettering -- in the same year that he also designed for the same publisher the binding of TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES. This is a near-fine copy -- there is faint mottled fading that always seems to afflict this book's cloth but there is little wear other than minor rubbing at the extremities small partly-erased signature on the endpaper. INTENTIONS has become a difficult title to acquire in better condition. Mason 341. unknown books
1894WRCLIT57389New York: Dodd Mead 1894. Tan cloth lettered in dark brown. Cloth a bit soiled front inner hinge cracking light pencil notes on rear endsheets but a good copy. American issue of the second edition one of five hundred copies bound up from British sheets. This copy bears an 1897 gift inscription to bookman and future publisher Mitchell Kennerley on the first blank from an unidentified Mr. MacArthur. MASON/MILLARD 344. Dodd, Mead hardcover books
18932958London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane 1893. First edition. Near Fine. Original publisher's clothing binding with gilt to spine and boards. A Near Fine copy with the spine slightly toned. Bookplate of Governour Morris Esquire to front pastedown. Light scattered foxing throughout. Collates: 12 132 14 2: complete including the publisher's catalogue with pages uncut. Inscribed by Wilde on the first blank to the business manager of the St. James's Theater: "R. V. Shone with the author's compliments and sincere thanks. Nov. 93." Under the management of George Alexander and R. V. Shone The St. James's Theater staged Lady Windermere's Fan Wilde's first produced play in 1892 the year before the book was released.<br/><br/>First editions signed by Wilde are scarce on the market with Lady Windermere being particularly rare as only 500 copies of the first edition were printed Mason. Auction records show that the six known association copies of this play were all signed trade editions as the run of 50 large paper copies came out after. The most recent presentation copy of Lady Windermere also presented to someone involved in the production sold in 2018 at Leslie Hindman for $40000. An exceptional example of Oscar Wilde presenting a first edition of his first produced play with "sincere thanks" to the theatre manager who throughout his career would assist Wilde in dodging scandal and bad publicity.<br/><br/>Critics and scholars consider Lady Windermere's Fan to be Wilde's "first successful dramatic production" as well as an enduring masterpiece Mendelssohn. Its success not only relied on his update to French comic models and tropes including blackmail revenge attempts and the discovery of a lost child; success also came as a result of Wilde's own management of the premier. "What we want to do is to have all the real conditions of a success on our hands.Success is a science; if you have the right conditions you get the result" he informed one of the actors Mendelssohn. In addition to pulling on popular stars to perform Wilde had the young men of his entourage arrive at the premier wearing green carnations in their buttonholes -- something that scandalized attendees when in a metatheatrical moment one of the characters onstage appeared with one as well referencing its cost and symbolism for decadent immorality. Prim attendees were in fact surrounded by a generation of young men devoted to such aesthetic ideals and wearing the same flower. This very symbol born out of Lady Windermere would lead to a strong and important professional relationship between Wilde and this book's recipient R.V. Shone the business manager at the St. James. <br/><br/>In 1894 an anonymously published novel The Green Carnation exposed the sexual relationship between Wilde and Bosie son to the Marquess of Queensbury -- a man who would become Wilde's nemesis to the end of his life. Though Wilde sought to dodge Queensbury socially the marquess was roiling for public confrontation. "There was one place and time where he could be sure of seeing Wilde -- the St. James' Theatre on the opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest when as was his custom he would take the stage after the performance to enjoy the acclaim of the audience. It was too good a chance to miss. Queensbury bought a ticket 'by fraud' Wilde suggested --as orders had been given not to sell him one -- and some vegetables.His intention was to greet Oscar's appearance with a shower of vegetation and then stand up and make a public announcement" Stratmann. Fortunately for Wilde supporters including Shone prevented this from happening. Rumor about Queensbury's plan spread notes were sent to Wilde and Wilde appealed to Shone for assistance. Reaching out to Queensbury with apologies Shone returned the marquess's money and explained that his seat had mistakenly been double-booked. Yet Shone and Wilde suspected this would not be the end and so Shone arranged not only to refuse the marquess admission at the door but to have police waiting at the entrance. It was this decision that prevented a disguised Queensbury and a paid prizefighter from sneaking in to pummel Wilde. Thwarted by Shone "he contented himself with having a bouquet of vegetables addressed to Wilde delivered to the stage door" Mikhail. Throughout his career staging work at St. James's Wilde would rely on Shone's business sense to make performances a success regardless what scandals they faced. An exceptional and rare association. Near Fine. Elkin Mathews & John Lane unknown books
1893140940629London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane 1893. First Edition. Very Good. First edition first printing. Bound in publisher's mauve cloth stamped in gilt. Very Good with soiling and darkening to cloth and corners and spine ends bumped. Previous owner bookplate and gift inscription to front endpaper. Pages toned. One of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde's best-known plays a comedy in four acts. Elkin Mathews and John Lane unknown books
189350532London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head 1893. First Edition. Small quarto 21.75cm.; original reddish-brown gilt-embossed cloth; 1413214adspp. Straight and tight with the boards slightly faded at margins as is typical and a few spots where cloth has begun to lift. The text is slightly tanned but foxing is contained to endpapers. In all a pleasing and well-preserved copy of a fragile book. 500 copies issued MASON 357. Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head unknown books
189322477London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head 1893. First Edition. Small quarto 21.75cm.; original reddish-brown gilt-embossed cloth; 1413214adspp. Extremities a bit rubbed narrow strip of discoloration to fore-edge of upper cover minor foxing to textblock upper hinge cracked but still quite strong; About Very Good. Contemporary bookplate of Oscar Wilde collector Jon Weekly. 500 copies issued MASON 357. Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head unknown books
18932221667<p>First edition. Octavo. Full modern navy blue morocco a.e.g.; marbled endpapers. Fine fresh copy. 132 pages publisher's 16 page catalog at end dated September 1893. No foxing. No signatures or bookplates. Enclosed in a blue cloth slipcase.</p><p>Printed by T. and A. Constable.</p><p>Mason 357.</p> Elkin Mathews hardcover books
1891WRCLIT84623London: Osgood McIlvaine and Co. 1891. Small octavo. Original salmon paper over boards printed and decorated in dark brown. Ink name dated 1892 on endsheet internally very good. The fragile binding shows heavy wear at the extremities is frayed at head and joints of the darkened spine with small repair and has a surface scrape on the upper board at the top corner causing loss of paper and affecting a few letters. A reasonably sound copy of this easily abused book. First edition. The edition consisted of two thousand copies of which five hundred were sent to the U.S. MASON/MILLARD 345. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co. hardcover books
188153887Boston: Roberts Brothers 1881. First American Edition. First Printing. Crown octavo 18cm; yellowish-brown cloth with titling and cherub device stamped in gilt on spine and front cover; yellow topstain; green floral-patterned endpapers; iiviii2304pp. Light wear to spine ends gentle sunning to spine with mild dust-soil and a few tiny rubbed spots to cloth and a 1.5cm tear to lower front hinge; contents fresh; Very Good. MASON 310. Roberts Brothers unknown books
1881WB18283London: David Bogue 1881. Second Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 8vo. Modern 3/4 green morocco and cloth slight fading to spine. Small booklabel of Henry Southern Ltd and a larger bookplate of Giles Alexander Esme Gordon. <br/><br/> David Bogue hardcover books
1892283124London: Elkin Mathews 1892. Limited. hardcover. near fine. Ricketts. Title page design and elaborately gilt pictorial binding by Charles Ricketts 8vo tan cloth uncut with top edge gilt. London: Chicwick Press for Elkin Mathews & John Lane.<br/><br/> The book has been re-cased with excellent facsimile end-papers and overall is in beautiful clean crisp condition. Number 64 of 220 copies signed by Wilde. Mason 309.<br/><br/> Elkin Mathews unknown books
1881D1284Boston: Roberts Brothers 1881. First American Edition First Issue. Hardcover. Very Good. Grey cloth gilt-stamped lettering and detail on upper board and spine yellow topstain pretty decorative endpapers. Spine tips and corners just a little rubbed and frayed; text block rolled with upper board extending nearly 1/4 inch beyond lower. A tight clean copy. <br/><br/> Roberts Brothers hardcover books
189422666ELondon: Elkin Mathews & John Lane 1894. First English Edition. Limited to 500 copies. Illustrated by Aubrey Beardsley. Original gilt-stamped blue cloth. Near fine only slightly handled copy with the gilt-stamping to the boards bright. From the library of Harpo Marx the great clown of the Marx Brothers comedy team and his wife actress Susan Fleming Marx former member of the Ziegfeld Follies and star of early talking films like Million Dollar Legs with W.C. Fields. With a charming bookplate illustrated by Susan Marx with a drawing of Harpo in his comic character which reads: “FROM THE LIBRARY OF HARPO & SUSAN MARXâ€. Elkin Mathews & John Lane hardcover books
18997568London: Leonard Smithers 1899. Octavo ff 31 62 pp uncut deckled edges. Unauthorized or pirated edition by the printer of the original first edition . The last edition that was authorized by Wilde for Smithers to print was dated 1899 and the numerous later unauthorized editions continued to bear that date. The title page gives Oscar Wilde's name in brackets as well as the pseudonym C.3.3 his cell number at the jail. Mason's bibliography of Wilde identifies this as the 8th printing p. 378. White cloth over mustard colored boards. Minor foxing to endpapers text block unaffected. Very good copy. <br/><br/> Leonard Smithers hardcover books
