WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900) - photo 1
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900) - photo 2
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900) - photo 3

WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)

Lot 148
13.02.2025 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1362825
Lot 148 | WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)
Estimate value
£ 40 000 – 60 000
WILDE, Oscar (1864-1900)
Salomé. Drame en un acte. Paris: Paul Schmidt for Librairie de l'Art Indépendant, and Elkin Mathews and John Lane, London, 1893.
First edition, presentation copy, later owned by his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, one of 50 copies on Van Gelder paper. Salome was already in rehearsals in 1892 with Sarah Bernhardt in the title role when the Lord Chamberlain banned it on the basis of it portraying biblical characters. The play, originally written in French while Wilde was living in Paris, was thus first printed there in 1893 in a limited edition of 50 copies as here, and 600 ordinary copies. Wilde inscribed the present copy on publication to Viscount Encombe, the former roommate of Wilde’s lover Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas. On Encombe’s death in 1900 the book seems to have passed to Bosie, who inscribed his name on a flyleaf. It was later owned by Gertrud Eysoldt, a German actor celebrated for her portrayal of Salome in the long-running production of Max Reinhardt in Berlin. ‘A critic stated she perfectly captured “the pathological persistence of a spoiled child . . . as well as the perverse, erotic, and vengeful lust of a scornful woman.”’ It was also owned by Kálmán Rozsnyay, aka Sydney Carton, an actor, artist and fantasist, who claimed to be a close friend of, and even secretary to, Wilde; no evidence supports his claim, not even the fact of his presence in England. Mason 348

Small quarto (195 x 145mm). Device by Felicien Rops on title and colophon (one or two small spots). Contemporary Art Deco binding by Agatha Wegeriff (1867-1944): cream marbled velvet, front cover with large maroon design likely in batik, gold silk endleaves (velvet a little rubbed, silk on front flyleaf lightly degraded); modern cream morocco folding box blindtooled with the cover design, maroon spine labels. Provenance: ‘Encombe, from his friend the author. Feby. 93’ (author’s presentation inscription to John Scott, Viscount Encombe, 1870-1900) – Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas (1870-1945; signature on flyleaf) – Gertrud Eysoldt (1870-1955; signature on flyleaf) – Kálmán Rozsnyay (1871-1948; signature on flyleaf) – Barry Humphries (1934-2023; bookplate).
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@
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Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

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