WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) - photo 1
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) - photo 2
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) - photo 3
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) - photo 4

WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)

Lot 149
13.02.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1362913
Lot 149 | WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
Estimate value
£ 20 000 – 30 000
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
Salome. Drame en un acte. Paris: Paul Schmidt for Librairie de l'Art Independant and London: Elkin Mathews, 1893.
A finely bound presentation copy of the first edition, inscribed by Wilde to Léon Daudet. Daudet was a French journalist, novelist, active monarchist, and a member of the Académie Goncourt, who clearly disapproved of Wilde’s behaviour in Paris, even before his fall, and pushed rumours of his homosexuality which caused many of Wilde’s friends to desert him (see Robert Sherard: Oscar Wilde, the story of an unhappy friendship. pp.113-4). He was, however, an influential critic and journalist, the son of the celebrated Alphonse Daudet, and despite his extreme right wing views and virulent anti-semitism, capable of great literary discernment. For example, Marcel Proust owed Daudet the Goncourt in 1919 for À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs; Daudet energetically supported Proust’s novel despite Proust being Jewish, a strong supporter of Dreyfus, and homosexual, the very antithesis of Daudet’s moral and political outlook. 'Salomé was being rehearsed in June 1892 for production at the Palace Theatre, London, by Madame Sarah Bernhardt (with M. Albert Darmont as Herod) when the Lord Chamberlain withheld his licence on the ground that the play introduced biblical characters. In an interview published at the time, the author expressed himself as follows : — "Personally to have my première in Paris instead of in London is a great honour, and one that I appreciate sincerely. The pleasure and pride that I have experienced in the whole affair has been that Madame Sarah Bernhardt, who is undoubtedly the greatest artist on any stage, should have been charmed and fascinated by my play and should have wished to act it.”' (Mason 348) Wilde had this first edition published in Paris in 600 copies with 50 copies on on Van Gelder. Mason 348.

Octavo (200 x 149mm). Device by Felicien Rops on title and colophon (light toning on titlepage). Crushed red morocco by Noulhac, dated 1910, upper side inlaid in black, brown and olive morocco with the design of a black iris, edges double gilt ruled, turn-ins gilt, original purple paper wrappers, lettered in silver, bound in, all edges gilt (wrappers slightly faded and silver rubbed, upper joint slightly rubbed); housed in morocco edged marbled paper slipcase. Provenance: Léon Daudet (1867-1942; inscribed by Wilde on verso of first blank 'à Léon Daudet. amicalement. Oscar Wilde') — Barry Humphries (1934-2023; bookplate).
Artist:Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
Auction house category:Books and manuscripts
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
13.02.2025 – 13.02.2025
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

The Happy Prince, signed with an autograph letter
The Happy Prince, signed with an autograph letter
$100
[WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)]
[WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)]
£3 000
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)
£12 000
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
£20 000
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
£25 000
[WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)]
[WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)]
£6 000
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)
£40 000
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900)
£25 000

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.