May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
219
First editions of four plays by Oscar Wilde
WILDE, OSCAR
An Ideal Husband. London: Smithers, 1899. First edition. One of 1,000 copies; Together with The Importance of Being Earnest. London: Smithers, 1899. First edition. One of 1,000 copies; Together with Lady Windermere's Fan. London: Smithers & Lane, 1893. First edition. One of 1,000 copies; Together with A Woman of No Importance. London: Smithers, 1894. First edition. One of 500 copies. The four volumes in their original mauve cloth, decorated with gilt designs after Charles Ricketts. 8 x 6 inches (20.5 x 15 cm); various paginations. Toning, soling and some wear to the delicate cloth bindings.
Oscar Wilde's four major plays are present here. All are in first edition and in the bindings of issue. The copy here of Lady Windemere's Fan bears the bookplate of Christopher Sclater Millard, the author of the first bibliography of Wilde, who was arguably the first major collector of Wildeana. It has an additional neat but extensive annotation regarding the rarity of the book by Richard C. Jackson F.S.A. Jackson was a collector of some note and a wildly eccentric figure, who, when he died in 1923, was reportedly found dead in his richly-furnished mansion in Camberwell "holding a partly eaten orange in his hand," a pleasing aesthetic touch. He was reported to be a lifelong friend of Walter Pater, and claimed to be the model for Pater's Marius the Epicurean. He also spoke of familial connection to the circles of Charles Lamb and William Blake. However, as pointed out in a fine article by the Blake scholar G. E. Bentley Jr,, he also appears to have been a fantasist of the first order. See https://bq.blakearchive.org/pdfs/36.3.bentley.pdf.
WILDE, OSCAR
An Ideal Husband. London: Smithers, 1899. First edition. One of 1,000 copies; Together with The Importance of Being Earnest. London: Smithers, 1899. First edition. One of 1,000 copies; Together with Lady Windermere's Fan. London: Smithers & Lane, 1893. First edition. One of 1,000 copies; Together with A Woman of No Importance. London: Smithers, 1894. First edition. One of 500 copies. The four volumes in their original mauve cloth, decorated with gilt designs after Charles Ricketts. 8 x 6 inches (20.5 x 15 cm); various paginations. Toning, soling and some wear to the delicate cloth bindings.
Oscar Wilde's four major plays are present here. All are in first edition and in the bindings of issue. The copy here of Lady Windemere's Fan bears the bookplate of Christopher Sclater Millard, the author of the first bibliography of Wilde, who was arguably the first major collector of Wildeana. It has an additional neat but extensive annotation regarding the rarity of the book by Richard C. Jackson F.S.A. Jackson was a collector of some note and a wildly eccentric figure, who, when he died in 1923, was reportedly found dead in his richly-furnished mansion in Camberwell "holding a partly eaten orange in his hand," a pleasing aesthetic touch. He was reported to be a lifelong friend of Walter Pater, and claimed to be the model for Pater's Marius the Epicurean. He also spoke of familial connection to the circles of Charles Lamb and William Blake. However, as pointed out in a fine article by the Blake scholar G. E. Bentley Jr,, he also appears to have been a fantasist of the first order. See https://bq.blakearchive.org/pdfs/36.3.bentley.pdf.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
