743. Dedication copies of An Ideal Husband (1899)

Presentation copies of the plays, poems and stories of Oscar Wilde now command prices that may surprise those who are not book lovers or diehard Wilde fans. Lately, Peter Harrington in London has presented catalogues with a range of inscribed Wilde books, and the firm's website currently offers several opportunities to empty your pockets.

When I searched for such items on the website last Sunday, photographs and descriptions were displayed of A Woman of No Importance dedicated by Wilde to his mother (£60,000.00), The Importance of Being Earnest with a dedication to William Rothenstein (£75,000.00), The Ballad of Reading Gaol with a handwritten dedication to his long-standing friend Carlos Blacker (£50,000.00), An Ideal Husband inscribed to his French translator Henry-David Davray (£30,000.00), and The Happy Prince and Other Tales dedicated to the American writer Edith Coues (who married Nelson O'Shaughnessy) (£37,500.00).

Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband (1899),
with dedication from Wilde to Henry-David Davray
[photo: Peter Harrington]

The binding of An Ideal Husband (1899), designed by Charles Shannon, has not survived in the best of states: 'Cloth faded and rubbed, faint stain affecting front cover and foot of spine and rear joint' - this is reflected in the price, which is the lowest in the list above.

Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband (1899),
binding designed by Charles Shannon
[photo: Peter Harrington]

The description of An Ideal Husband asserts: 'Few inscribed copies have survived: just five are listed in auction records'. I do not know which system has been searched for this, but in my (limited) files I find more than three times as many dedication copies of this book (one of which was mentioned in last week's blog on Walter M. Hill's catalogues).

Dedication copies of An Ideal Husband (1899)

1. Kyrle Bellew (1850-1911), British actor.

‘To Kyrle Bellew: | from his friend | the author . | a recognition. | Oscar Wilde.’ 

2. André Gide (1869-1951), French author. 

‘To | my friend | André Gide : | memory | of friendship : | Oscar | Wilde’. 

3. Henry-David Davray (1873-1944), French journalist and translator.

‘Henry D. Davray, | from the author: | in recognition | and esteem: | Oscar Wilde’.

4. Lord Alfred Douglas (1870-1945), British author, Wilde's lover. 

‘To Bosie: the beautiful poet. From the author. Oscar Wilde’. 

5. Eileen Falking. 

‘To Eileen Falking: in remembrance of pleasant days in France: from the author. Oscar Wilde, Nov. ‘99’. 

6. Ernest Flower (1865-1926), British politician. 

7. Christian Frederick Gauss (1878-1951), American critic, professor of literature. 

‘from his friend the author in esteem in recognition’.

8. Frank Harris (1856-1931), British writer and editor.

‘To Frank Harris who has unlocked Shakespeare’s heart for us. A recognition, from the Author’. 

9. Frank Harris (1856-1931), British writer and editor. 

‘To Frank Harris, whose name I have written on the portal of my play’. 

10. Ernest La Jeunesse (1874-1917), French writer and critic. 

‘Ernest La Jeunesse: in admiration and friendship: from the author, Oscar Wilde’. 

11. Gabriel de Lautrec (1867-1938), French author.

12. Robert Ross (1869-1918), Canadian author, art dealer and editor, Wilde's literary executor.

‘to Robert Ross, “the perfect friend”’ 

13. Charles Shannon (1863-1937), British artist. 

‘To Charles Shannon: In sincere admiration: in affection: from the author. Oscar Wilde.’

14. Frits Thaulow (1847-1906), Norwegian painter.

15. Reginald Turner (1869-1938), British author and journalist. 

‘To Reginald Turner, from his friend the author: in affection and esteem. Oscar Wilde.’ 

16. Lewis Waller (1860-1950), English actor and theatre manager. 

‘To Lewis Waller in recognition of his beautiful acting and art in my play. Oscar Wilde’. 

17. John Strange Winter (is Henrietta Eliza Vaughan Palmer) (1856-1911), American novelist.