Limited Edition, Signed by Oscar Wilde
Picture of Dorian Gray.
London: Ward Lock and Co., 1891.
Full Description:
WILDE, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Ward Lock and Co., 1891.
First edition in book form, this being the Edition de Luxe, limited to 250 copies numbered by hand and signed by Oscar Wilde, this being number 52. Royal octavo
(8 1/2 x 7 inches; 215 x 180 mm). vii, [1], 334 pp. Printed on Dutch hand-made paper, watermarked Van Gelder.
Publisher's quarter parchment over rough grey bevelled boards, possibly rebacked retaining the original spine. Front cover with gilt lettering atop a pattern of fifty-five gilt butterflies (designed by Charles Ricketts), spine lettered in gilt at base, top edge gilt, rest uncut. Newer endpapers. Previous owner's penciled poem in German to half-title. Some dust-soiling to deckle edges. Some rubbing to bevelled edges. A small slit at the bottom of the front hinge. Overall, a very good copy in the publisher’s binding.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde's first novel, and was first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, July 1890. Six new chapters are added to this first appearance in book form, with many other additions and variations. On its first appearance this book was violently attacked by the critics and its publication did Wilde a great deal of harm.
Mason 329.
HBS 69675.
$55,000.
Price: $55,000.00
Item #69675