Display Signed Copies Only Display All Inventory on Abebooks

Available Copies from Independent Booksellers

Wilde, Oscar. Lord Arthur Savile's Crime & Other Stories.. James R. Osgood, London, 1891.

Price: US$1750.00 + shipping

Description: First edition of this collection of Wilde's humorous mystery stories, published the same year as the first edition in book form of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Octavo, original stiff paper-covered boards. In good condition. Very rare. Wilde’s “theme is not, as is often supposed, art’s divorce from life, but its inescapable arraignment by experience. His creative works almost always end in unmasking. The hand that adjusts the green carnation suddenly shakes an admonitory finger. While the ultimate virtue in Wilde’s essays is in make-believe, the denouement of his dramas and narratives is that masks have to go. We must acknowledge what we are. Wilde at least was keen to do so. Though he offered himself as the apostle of pleasure, his created world contains much pain” (Ellmann, xvi). In addition to the title story, Wilde's Lord Arthur Savile's Crime & Other Stories contains The Sphinx withoout a Secret, The Canterville Ghost, and The Model Millionaire.

Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.

Wilde, Oscar. [Wilde, Oscar- Unusually Fine Copy] Lord Arthur Savile's Crime & Other Stories. James R. Osgood, McIlvaine, London, 1891.

Price: US$3250.00 + shipping

Description: First Edition. Small octavo. Original publisher's printed salmon paper boards, edges uncut. This is the scarce collection of Wilde's collection of Wilde's humorous mystery stories, published in the same year as the first book form edition of Wilde's successful "Picture of Dorian Gray." A wonderfully preserved copy of a very difficult Wilde copy to find in presentable condition, owing to the fragile quality of the paper covered boards, extending over and including the spine, with the opening and closing of the book causing wear and separation to occur. Our copy has that interface completely intact, and covers are clean and bright. One very small paper tape applied to corner of page. About as nice a copy one could hope to find. Housed in nice beige cloth folding chemise (lined with blue felt) and matching morocco backed (gilt lettering, raised bands, gilt decorations) cloth slipcase. Most desirable.

Seller: Nudelman Rare Books, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.