Blog 743 (29 October) contained a list of presentation copies of An Ideal Husband. It was incomplete, as could be expected: Oscar Wilde had written his publisher that he wanted around thirty presentation copies to be sent out in July 1899 (see Complete Letters, 2000, p. 1158-9). As follows:
[large paper (100 copies):]Robert Ross, Reginald Turner, Lord Alfred Douglas, More Adey, Charles Shannon
[regular edition (1000 copies):]
Louis Wilkinson, Kyle Bellew, H.H. Morell (Henry Harvey Morell Mackenzie), Lewis Waller, Herbert Edward Osman Edwards, Vincent O'Sullivan, Ernest Dowson, Félix Fénéon, Ernest La Jeunesse, Langrel Harris, Henri Bauër, Digby Lamotte, Frances Forbes-Robertson, Arthur L. Humphreys, Stuart Merrill, André Gide, Ferdinand Hérold, Wilfred Scawen Blunt, Major J.O. Nelson, Henry-David Davray.
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| Oscar Wilde, dedication to André Gide in An Ideal Husband (1899) |
Wilde wrote to Frank Harris (not listed above) that he would receive a large paper copy and a deluxe copy (one of 12 on Japanese paper), but, as they were not ready yet, he asked the publisher to send him an ordinary copy as well.
Mark Samuels Lasner wrote to me that he had also once started a list of this play's dedication copies and sent me some additions, some of which I have not yet been able to ascertain in the catalogues of libraries and museums. However, these two can be added to the list:
More dedication copies of An Ideal Husband (1899)
A. More Adey (1858-1942), British art critic and editor.
'To | my dear and | good friend | More Adey : cor cordium : | speculum amicitiae : | Oscar Wilde.'
[British Library, London: Eccles 109: No. 100/100 copies].
B. Robert Ross (1869-1918), Canadian author, art dealer and editor, Wilde's literary executor.
'To Robert Ross: | the perfect friend : | in deep | affection | from the | author. | Oscar Wilde'
[British Library, London: Eccles 108: No. 92/100 copies].
