Wilde OscarABAA
67 résultats
1891WRCLIT69505London: James R. Osgood McIlvaine 1891. Small quarto. Gilt green cloth backed cream cloth over boards elaborately decorated in gilt and red. Plates illustrations and decorated endsheets. Binding a bit darkened with some pale discolorations at edge 1895 ownership signature on preliminary blank corners a trifle worn the plates by Shannon somewhat faded as usual but still legible a few small nicks and a short tear to the edges of the front free endsheet but a good sound copy a few leaves unopened. First edition. Design illustrations and decorations by C. Ricketts and C. Shannon with plates by the latter. One of one thousand copies printed. Mason/Millard gives an account of the circumstances which led to the faint state of the Shannon plates. Contains four short stories: "The Young King" which first appeared in THE LADY'S PICTORIAL Christmas Number 1888 "The Birthday of the Infanta" which first appeared in PARIS ILLUSTRÉ March 30 1889 "The Fisherman and His Soul" and "The Star- Child." Because of its physical construction a book very difficult to find in agreeable condition. MASON/MILLARD 347. James R. Osgood McIlvaine hardcover books
189422263London: John Lane 1894. First edition. Hardcover. Publisher's full mauve cloth stamped in gilt spine stamped and lettered in gilt. Very good. 154 pages. 27.5 x 16 cm. Limited edition one of 500 with 16 pages of advertisements at end dated March 1894 Cover gilt design florets by Charles Shannon considerably influenced by his lifetime partner Charles Ricketts both of whom produced work for the Doves Press. MASON 364. The play premièred on 19 April 1893 at London's Haymarket Theatre satirizing English upper-class society. Spine dulled spine extremities creased binding tight; a reasonably sound copy. John Lane hardcover books
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 books
1894304822London: John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head in Vigo Street. Printed by T. and A. Constable Edinburgh 1894. First edition one of 500 copies. 154 1 pp. 1 vols. 4to. Original mauve cloth decorated in gilt. Spine faded cloth at extremities frayed corners bumped some soiling to cloth front flyelaf and first blank torn at gutter. Good. First edition one of 500 copies. 154 1 pp. 1 vols. 4to. Mason 365 John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head in Vigo Street. Printed by T. and A. Constable, Edinburgh unknown books
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
1894123204Small 4to. London: John Lane at the Bodley Head 1894. Small 4to xiv 154 1 pp. Original salmon buckram covers with gilt-stamped decorations gilt top backstrip lettered and stamped in gilt some browning throughout as usual binding a bit soiled but good. § First edition though there were 15 copies printed for the production of the play in New York. This play contains some of Wilde’s best quips - with especially astute comments on the nature of society. A hard book to find in good condition. On the front pastedown are two bookplates: George Ravenscroft Dennis and Lucius Wilmderding. John Lane at the Bodley Head hardcover books
1894109920Small 4to. London: John Lane at the Bodley Head 1894. Small 4to xiv 154 1 pp. Original salmon buckram covers with gilt-stamped decorations gilt top backstrip lettered and stamped in gilt scattered foxing a lovely copy enclosed in a quarter blue morocco slipcase. § First edition though there were 15 copies printed for the production of the play in New York. This play contains some of Wilde’s best quips - with especially astute comments on the nature of society. A hard book to find in perfect condition -- this copy has been boxed for about 100 years and is almost flawless. On the front pastedown is a printed note: “This book is now published by John Lane at the Bodley Head in Vigo St London Wâ€. Millard 365. John Lane at 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
18991232028vo. London: Leonard Smithers 1899. 8vo 213 1 imprintpp. Original salmon cloth stamped in gold backstrip dull internally very good. Wilmerding bookpate upside down in back. § First edition one of 1000 copies. “Although Wilde's third play opened in 1895 it was not published until four years later and after Wilde had been released from prison. The success of The Ballad of Reading Gaol persuaded Wilde to publish his last two plays the other being The Importance of Being Ernest. All three were published by Leonard Smithers one of very few remaining publishers prepared to handle Wilde's work†Sotheby’s. Mason 385. "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance". Leonard Smithers hardcover books
18991099238vo. London: Leonard Smithers 1899. 8vo 213 1 imprintpp. Original salmon cloth stamped in gold one corner creased slightest of soiling to covers ink signature at front “Winifred M.F. Carritt Christmas 1900â€. Blue quarter morocco slipcase. § First edition one of 1000 copies. “Although Wilde's third play opened in 1895 it was not published until four years later and after Wilde had been released from prison. The success of The Ballad of Reading Gaol persuaded Wilde to publish his last two plays the other being The Importance of Being Ernest. All three were published by Leonard Smithers one of very few remaining publishers prepared to handle Wilde's work.†Sotheby’s. Mason 385. Leonard Smithers 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
1895215072London: Elkin Mathews. Dublin: Hodges Figgis & Co. Limited 1895. First edition. xiii 1 140 4 20 ads pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Original green cloth. Fine. First edition. xiii 1 140 4 20 ads pp. 1 vols. 8vo. With 4 poems by Oscar Wilde and poems by Douglas Hyde Aubrey de Vere John Todhunter William Wilde. Elkin Mathews. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co., Limited 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
1893002401London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head. Printed by T. and A. Constable Edinburgh 1893. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good Minus. 8vo. 21.5 by 16 cm. 8.5 by 6.25 inches. 18 132 14 2 pp. With publisher's list of books in the back. In this first edition apparently only 500 copies were printed! The pages are heavily toned per the norm for the paper stock but clean otherwise. The binding is tight. A few uncut leaves in the advertisement section. FEP with small ornamental bookplate pastedown of "Carroll Atwood Wilson" who was a well-known book collector of his day as well as a lawyer and chief legal counsel to the Guggenheims. The publisher's peach-colored cloth has some blistering on the boards. Along the edges there are long narrow spots in which the color is washed out. The spine has been rebacked with most of the original spine mounted thereon with a small loss of the gilt lettering transpiring. The resulting spine also has small dark spots and one is likely not to find it prepossessing. <br/><br/> Elkin Mathews and John Lane at the Sign of the Bodley Head. Printed by T. and A. Constable, Edinburgh hardcover 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
