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Oscar Wilde. The Happy Prince. Roberts Bros, Boston, 1888.

Price: US$800.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: London: David Nutt, 1888. 8vo, (8), [118]pp, with a frontispiece and 2 plates by Crane and illustrations throughout by Jacomb-Hood. Original cream pictorial boards, The collection of stories for children established Wilde's reputation as an author, with the Athenaeum comparing him to Hans Christian Andersen. It was and remains one of Wilde's most treasured and popular work Note this is a rare book, only preceded by the limited edition of 75 signed by David Nutt and the 1st trade edition limited to only 1,000 copies by David Nutt, 1888 and now in the same year issued in Boston in an edition of only approximately 1,000 copies, in a slightly smaller 8vo format, this is essentially the same book as the London first, which lists between 3 and 8 thousand dollars. in very good though dusty and slightly soiled condition the text block and plates however, are excellent. re issued later and illustrated later in many glorious editions, all more common this one and its London cousins.

Seller: Hirschfeld Galleries, Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.

Wilde, Oscar. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. David Nutt, London, 1888.

Price: US$1575.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: 1888 First edition. Illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacomb Hood. Half-bound in brown leather which remains glossy but shows some edge rub; five raised bands and lovely marbled boards. Gilt titles and gilt floral devices to the six spine compartments. A large octavo, 6-3/4-X-9 inches, though the text could have easily be trimmed to fit into into a smaller volume. Walter Crane's frontispiece illustration of the Happy Prince is still protected by its tissue guard; two other B&W plates by Walter Crane present. The period-appropriate floral endpapers are undisturbed. 117 pp. Reduced from $2,990.

Seller: Cat's Curiosities, Pahrump, NV, U.S.A.

Wilde, Oscar. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. David Nutt, 1888.

Price: US$2000.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: 1888 David Nutt first edition in paper covered boards, spine is chipped, shows age tone and fox, binding is tender. Bookplate to front paste down. B54 Please email for photos. Larger books or sets may require additional shipping charges. Books sent via US Postal

Seller: Griffin Books, Stamford, CT, U.S.A.

WILDE, Oscar.. The Happy Prince and Other Tales.. London David Nutt, 1888.

Price: US$3025.00 + shipping

Description: First trade edition; Lge 8vo (230 x 175 mm); Illustrated and embellished by Walter Crane and Jacomb Hood, contemporary, neat ownership name to upper endpaper, dated the year of publication, 1888, the occasional light, marginal spot or mark, otherwise very good; modern full maroon morocco, crimson lettering-piece to spine gilt, preserved in a custom-made slip-case, fine. Oscar Wilde's marvellous all-time favourite work, as illustrated and embellished by Walter Crane and Jacomb Hood. Mason 362.

Seller: Shapero Rare Books, London, United Kingdom

Wilde,Oscar;Crane,Walter;Hood,Jacomb. The Happy Prince And Other Tales.. David Nutt,London,, 1888.

Price: US$3248.86 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: Quite a rare rendition of The Happy Prince. First edition of Oscar Wilde's marvellous all-time favourite work, as illustrated and embellished by Walter Crane and Jacomb Hood. Later dark red full leather binding with spine gilt and decorated in compartments,gilt-ruled covers.Later laid-paper endpapers and additional free blanks.Small previous owner's Christmas inscription on the upper corner of half-title, another similar on title. Otherwise clean and unmarked.Binding with a little wear but well done and solid.Please inquire.Photographs via email.Please allow 24 hours for confirmation of availability and postage costs.We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you.

Seller: Garland Books, Dundee, UK, United Kingdom

Wilde, Oscar. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. David Nutt, 1888.

Price: US$5690.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: First Trade Edition. One of 1000 copies published in May of 1888. Illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacob Hood. Original Japanese vellum pictorial boards - rubbed, small stain at foot of spine, endpapers discolored by binder's glue, else internally clean. Very Good in a great custom folding-case. A solid copy of a title that's rare in nice original condition. *** A work that bolstered Wilde s fame and which he described as partly for children, and partly for those who have kept the childlike faculties of wonder and joy, and who find in simplicity a subtle strangeness. ***Please click on "ask seller a question" to contact us for better pricing.

Seller: Anniroc Rare Books, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.

WILDE, Oscar.. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacomb Hood.. London: David Nutt, 1888, 1888.

Price: US$5847.96 + shipping

Description: First edition of Wilde's first and best-known collection of children's stories, including "The Selfish Giant", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Devoted Friend", and "The Remarkable Rocket". Wilde's "reputation as an author dated from the publication of the Happy Prince and Other Tales in London in May 1888. The Athenaeum compared him to Hans Christian Andersen, and Pater wrote to say that 'The Selfish Giant' was 'perfect in its kind,' and the whole book written in 'pure English' - a wonderful compliment" (Ellmann, p. 282). Mason 313 ("1,000 copies"). Richard Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, 1987. Small quarto. Original cream paper-covered boards, spine lettered in black, front cover lettered in red with vignette design in black and publisher's device in red. Frontispiece, with tissue guard, and 2 plates by Walter Crane, 12 head- and tailpieces by Jacomb Hood. Head of spine lightly worn, boards rubbed, a couple of bumps to extremities, short split to front inner hinge, endpapers and outer leaves lightly foxed, contents otherwise clean and unmarked. A very good copy of this fragile production.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom

WILDE, OSCAR. The Happy Prince And Other Tales. David Nutt, London, 1888.

Price: US$35000.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: First Large Paper Edition and the true first edition. From a limited print run of 75 signed copies, this one being number 39. Signed on the limitation page by Wilde and publisher David Nutt, as called for. Now housed in a lovely custom 1/4 leather clamshell, drop-back box, lined in velvet. Title page in red and black. Frontispiece illustrations for The Happy Prince and two further illustrations for The Selfish Giant and The Remarkable Rocket by Walter Crane, each in two states, as called for by Stuart Mason. Small head and tail-pieces, as well as the cover illustration, by Jacomb Hood. 4to; 28.4 x 19.7 cm. Printed at Ballantyne Press. Contains The Happy Prince;The Nightingale and the Rose; The Selfish Giant; The Devoted Friend; and The Remarkable Rocket. Both interior hinges have been re-inforced. "The covers are of stout bevelled boards covered with Japanese vellum;"(Stuart Mason). There is some minor soiling to the white Japanese vellum covered boards. The final page with the small design and the proceeding blank page remain uncut. The hand-made paper remains very clean and solid. Certainly one of the rarest and most desirable volumes for the Oscar Wilde collector. Data from: Bibliography of Oscar Wilde by Stuart Mason. Very Good.

Seller: First Place Books - ABAA, ILAB, Walkersville, MD, U.S.A.

WILDE Oscar CRANE Walter. Happy Prince and Other Tales. , 1888.

Price: US$48500.00 + shipping

Description: "WILDE, Oscar. The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacob Hood. London: David Nutt, 1888. Quarto, original full Japan vellum over beveled boards, uncut. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. $48,500.Large-paper limited first edition, number 21 of only 75 copies on handmade paper, signed by Oscar Wilde and the publisher David Nutt. Extraordinarily rare."Wilde's reputation as an author dated from the publication of The Happy Prince and Other Tales He presents the stories like sacraments of a lost faith Their occasional social satire is subordinated to a sadness unusual in fairy tales" (Ellmann, 299). Wilde wrote these tales for his own children. He told Richard La Gallienne that "It is the duty of every father to write fairy tales for his children." His children later wrote of their father's "never-ending supply" of fairy tales and tales of adventure, which he often told them to calm them down. Many of his stories were never put to paper, unfortunately, but the ones that do survive are considered to be examples of his most creative writing. In addition to the title story, this collection includes "The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Selfish Giant," "The Devoted Friend," and "The Remarkable Rocket." Wilde commented that he intended these stories "partly for children, and partly for those who have kept the child-like faculties of wonder and joy, and who find in simplicity a subtle strangeness" (Hart-Davis, Letters of Oscar Wilde, 219). With three pen-and-ink line cuts by Art Nouveau illustrator Walter Crane, each in double suite (black and brown) on mounted India paper, and with intricate head- and tailpieces by Jacomb Hood, also on India paper. Mason 314. Plates and text fine, light foxing to endpapers, slightest soiling and very mild toning to extremities of boards, far less than usual, and small bump to lower corner. A most superior copy, about-fine, of a delicate and rare production."

Seller: Bauman Rare Books, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.

WILDE, Oscar; illustrated by CRANE, Walter; HOOD, Jacomb. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER TALES. London: David Nutt., 1888.

Price: US$48732.97 + shipping

Description: First edition, first printing. Signed Limited Edition. Small 4to. Stunning contemporary orange morocco by Zaehnsdorf, titles and ivy leaf tooling in gilt to the spine, upper board with titles in gilt, upper and lower boards decorated with acorns and oak, ivy, sycamore and willow leaves in gilt. The inner dentelles are decorated with ivy leaves in gilt, the binder's name stamp in gilt at the front and exhibition stamp in gilt at the rear. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Retaining the original upper wrapper. Illustrated title page in red with black vignette, printed title page in red and black. Illustrated with a frontispiece and two further plates by Walter Crane, each in two states, and 12 head and tailpieces by Jacomb Hood. A beautiful, near fine copy. Imperceptible repair to the upper joint, minor toning to the leather. The contents with light offsetting to the endpapers and a faint mark to the margin of one page are otherwise clean and bright throughout. Housed in a recent full black morocco, felt lined solander case, titles in gilt to the spine, and grey cloth slipcase. Limited to 75 large paper copies of which this is hand numbered 36 and signed by Oscar Wilde and the publisher David Nutt on the limitation page. A superb example of the rare first edition (preceding the trade edition of 1000 copies, issued later the same year), in an exceptional contemporary exhibition quality autumnal foliate binding. The Happy Prince is Oscar Wilde's first and best known collection of children's stories, including "The Selfish Giant", "The Nightingale and the Rose", "The Devoted Friend" and "The Remarkable Rocket". Wilde's "Reputation as an author dated from the publication of The Happy Prince and Other Tales in London in May 1888. The Athenaeum compared him to Hans Christian Andersen and Pater wrote to say that 'The Selfish Giant' was 'perfect in its kind,' and the whole book written in 'pure English' - a wonderful compliment" (Ellmann, Richard: Oscar Wilde p. 282). [Mason 314]. Provenance: Charles Mills, Lord Hillingdon (1830 - 1898); Sotheby's sale of 1932, lot 454; purchased by book dealer and co-founder of the Society for Theatre Research Ifan Kyrle Fletcher (with his neat pencil note recording the sale on the front pastedown); Helen Hambro, née Boyson (1936 - 2004). Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.

Seller: LUCIUS BOOKS (ABA, ILAB, PBFA), York, United Kingdom