WILDE, OscarBiblio.com
An Ideal Husband.
1899réf. 159879London: Leonard Smithers and Co 1899. Wilde's favourite play with an appealing association First edition one of 1000 copies printed presented in the year of publication from Lady Lewis the wife of Wilde's solicitor to their mutual friend the actress Elizabeth Robins. Lewis has inscribed the front free endpaper: "With love from Beth. Lewis. Aug. 6th 99 Vulpera"; Robins's ownership inscription is on the half-title: "Elizabeth Robins from Lady Lewis Waldhaus Tarasp Switzerland". Waldhaus Vulpera was a popular Grand Hotel in the Swiss Alps. Elizabeth Lewis née Eberstadt was the second wife of Wilde's long-time friend and legal adviser Sir George Lewis 1833-1911. A discreet and astute solicitor he advised Wilde on various occasions and on his request represented Lord Alfred Douglas in 1983 to recover an incriminating letter from a blackmailer. Richard Ellman Wilde's biographer mentions a series of letters sent by Wilde to her during his lecture tour of North America in which he boasted about his various successes. The American actress and feminist Elizabeth Robins 1862-1952 is best known for her play Votes for Women! which is credited with inaugurating suffrage drama. Wilde met her for the first time at a reception at Lady Seton's House in 1888 and subsequently used his influence to help her gain success on the London stage. He gave her feedback on her performances throughout her career. Oscar Wilde's third comedy An Ideal Husband premiered at the Haymarket on 3 January 1895 preceding his sensational trial but was not published until after his release from prison. In a letter to his publisher Leonard Smithers Wilde wrote that "I really think it reads the best of my plays" cited in Nelson p. 392. Quarto. Original pink cloth flat spine lettered in gilt leaf motifs to spine and covers designed by Charles Shannon edges untrimmed. Spine and head of rear cover sunned cloth otherwise bright spine ends and tips slightly rubbed and bumped tiny mark to front cover offsetting to endpapers a few spots of foxing to half-title otherwise generally clean. A very good fresh copy. Mason p. 433; James G. Nelson Publisher to the Decadents: Leonard Smithers in the Careers of Beardsley Wilde Dowson 2000. hardcover
Peter Harrington · Royaume-Uni2 250,00 £GB≈ 2 687,27 €
