The Importance of Being Earnest.

£1,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books · No longer available

one of 1000 copies One of 1000 copies of Wilde's most celebrated play. First performed on 14th February 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest marked the zenith of Wilde's career, and followed on from the success of Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband, and A Woman of No Importance. However, as his professional star rose, so did the escalation of his feud with Lord Queensberry, father of his lover Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie). Only four days after the opening of the play Lord Queensberry left his card at Wilde's club, scrawled with the words 'For Oscar Wilde posing somdomite' [sic]. Wilde, despite the advice of his friends but egged on by his lover, sued Queensberry for libel, and the rest his history. On 25th May, in the ensuing trial brought by the Crown, Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour. First edition, limited issue, unmarked number of 1000 copies; small 4to (22 x 16.5 cm); slight offsetting to half-title and final page, some general marginal soiling and age-toning to pages (as expected with age), occasional minor spot or mark, otherwise good condition; mid-twentieth century brown calfskin over marble boards, spine in 6 compartments with red morocco lettering piece to second and fourth, lettering and rose decal tooled in gilt, some general signs of wear, primarily to extremities, else good; [xvi], 151pp, [1]pp. Mason 381.

• Binding: Hardcover

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.