The Importance of Being Earnest - photo 1

The Importance of Being Earnest

Sold
$ 2 268
Auction dateClassic
07.12.2022 10:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 859695
Lot 176 | The Importance of Being Earnest
[WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900).] The Importance of Being Earnest. London: Leonard Smithers and Co, 1899.

First edition, one of 1000 copies printed. The Importance of Being Earnest was Wilde’s best and most celebrated play, but also his downfall—the Marquess of Queensbury, father of his lover Lord Alfred Douglas, planned to disrupt the opening night and the ensuing conflict eventually led to Wilde’s conviction and imprisonment for “gross indecency.” The play’s run was cut short due to Wilde’s notoriety, but he arranged for this publication of the text from his exile in Paris, with his name left off. The editing of this play, along with Lady Windermere’s Fan, for publication were Wilde’s final literary efforts.

Small quarto. Original lilac cloth gilt, decorated with repeated leaf spray design by Charles Shannon (cloth darkened, spine a bit toned and leaning a little with some wear at ends). Provenance: Dudley James (bookplate) – Swann Galleries, 11 January 1990, lot 285.
Place of origin:United Kingdom
Category:Printed book
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
23.11.2022 – 07.12.2022
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.