Included in the Oscar Wilde collection of Jeremy J. Mason (Bonhams auction of 18 February 2026) was a copy of Charles Ricketts's Beyond the Threshold (1929). Ricketts was quite proud of this late achievement for which he designed an imposing binding and made five pen drawings - and, of course, he had written the story incorporating a few prose poems that he ascribed to Oscar Wilde. The copy in the Mason sale is one of many dedication copies. This one is especially dear:
To Thom Winslow
This Victorian Masterpiece
From its
British author
C. Ricketts
 |
| Charles Ricketts, Beyond the threshold (1929) Dedication to Thom Winslow [photo Bonhams, London] |
But who is Thom Winslow?
Henry Winslow
The only Winslow I am aware of with whom Ricketts was on friendly terms was the American painter Henry Winslow, about whom, incidentally, little is known for certain. Born in 1874 or 1875 – depending on the source – Henry Winslow probably died in 1953 or 1955. He was a graphic artist, primarily an etcher, who left America for Paris to study at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, also under James McNeill Whistler. He later moved to London, where Ricketts often saw him during the Great War. He was naturalised in 1927 (presumably). In March 1914, Winslow - a member of the New English Art Club - exhibited works at R. Gutekunst's Gallery, in December 1926 works were shown at the Dudensing Galleries, in 1937 etchings were exhibited at the Fine Art Society, and in 1949 his watercolours were on display at Kensington Art Gallery (along with works by Ethel Pye and others). Every now and then he also exhibited in the USA. His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1912 and 1945. His addresses were mentioned in the catalogues. Between 1922 and 1937 he lived at 24, Marlborough Place, St. John's Wood (1922-1937).
In November 1920, Mrs Henry Winslow required a cook and parlour-maid when the couple were living at 1 Hill Road, Abbey Road, St. John's Wood (a notice was published in The Times). This was in the neighbourhood of Ricketts and Shannon, and also Mary and Edmund Davis, and, Edmund Dulac. (This address was mentioned in the 1921 catalogue of the Royal Academy). In fact, after World War 2, the Winslows let Dulac and his wife Helen stay in their house in St John’s Wood after the Dulacs found their studio at Ladbroke Road flooded.
Mrs Henry Winslow was Helen Stirling Winslow, née Thomas (1890-1973), an artist in her own right and also a member of the New English Art Club. One of her undated paintings (Pieta) mentioned the later address of 64 Marlborough Place along with a Swiss one: 'Villa Helios, Minusio, Tieuro, Switzerland'. Her work was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1941 and 1945 (her address at the time was: Dolphins, Thame, Oxon, and so was Henry's).
In 1953, a poetry collection by Henry Winslow - with the rather unremarkable title Poems - was published by a local Swiss publisher: Arte Grafiche Carminati in Locarno. Perhaps, the book was a posthumous publication.
Thom and Marius Winslow
A search of newspapers does not yield a biography of Thom Winslow. There are snippets mentioning a Mrs Thomas Winslow, who seems to have been married in around 1929 - perhaps the reason for the dedication?
The dedication copy of Beyond the Threshold also has another name written on the first free endpaper: 'Marius Winslow'. He is associated with the sale of some original Dulac drawings for an illustrated edition of Treasure Island (1927). Marius and Henry are probably family members - I have no access to archives that can proof this assumption. The Ashmolean Museum, however, owns a painting that was purchased with the assistance of a gift in memory of Helen, Henry and Marius Winslow in 1975. No Thom is mentioned! Was Ricketts mistaken and had he intended this copy for Henry Winslow in the first place?
