I have been in the rare and antiquarian book business for over forty years; my family has been in the rare books business since 1876. Rare books are in my blood.
Importance of Being Earnest, The
London: Leonard Smithers and Co., 1899. Item #06518
“The Trivial Comedy for Serious People - Wilde’s Masterpiece”
First Edition, One of 1,000 Numbered Copies
WILDE, Oscar. The Importance of Being Earnest. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. By the Author of Lady Windermere’s Fan. London: Leonard Smithers and Co., 1899.
First edition. One of 1,000 numbered copies, this being No. 256. Printed at the Chiswick Press.
Small quarto (8 3/4 x 7 inches; 222 x 178 mm.). [16], 151, [1] pp.
Publisher’s light red-brown linen over boards, covers decoratively stamped in gilt, spine decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt, the design by Charles Shannon. All edges uncut. The bare minimum of rubbing to extremities, free endpapers minimally browned from paste-down glue, as usual; spine slightly darkened and gilt a little dulled. Still a near fine copy, sound and unrestored example.
The first book appearance of Wilde’s most celebrated play, originally performed in 1895 at the St. James’s Theatre. Issued four years later by Smithers - Wilde’s principal publisher during and after his fall - this edition presents the definitive text of his final and finest comedy.
The Importance of Being Earnest represents the culmination of Wilde’s dramatic art: a perfectly constructed satire of identity, social convention, and moral pretense, combining epigrammatic brilliance with unmatched theatrical economy.
The edition is notable for its elegant production, including the Chiswick Press printing and the distinctive gilt cover design by Charles Shannon, placing it among the most visually refined of Wilde’s first editions.
Bibliographical Reference
A pleasing and well-preserved example. The slight spine darkening and mellowing of the gilt are typical; copies retaining such integrity are increasingly scarce.
Mason 382.
Price: $4,500.00