WILDE, Oscar. Picture of Dorian Gray. Ward, Lock and Co, London, 1891.

Price: US$3750.00 + shipping

Description: Full Description: WILDE, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Ward Lock and Co., [n.d., 1891]. First edition first issue in book form. Octavo (6 7/8 x 4 3/4 inches; 175 x 120 mm). vii, [1, blank], 334 pp. Bound without the final blank leaf. Title-page designed by Charles Ricketts. With the typographic error at the beginning of line 23 of page 208 ("nd" instead of "and" - this was corrected for the July 1891 signed limited edition). Rebound to the style of original in quarter parchment over gray paper-covered beveled boards. Grey endpapers. Top edge gilt. Leaf B2 with tiny repair to bottom margin, not affecting text. Bottom outer corners repaired to leaves C1-C3, E1, I1, T4, V7 and X2. Leaf X7 with a one-inch closed tear to fore-edge margin, just touching one letter. Despite the small amount of wear, a wonderful example of this controversial novel. This edition can be distinguished from the (also undated) 1895 reprint by the "Ward Lock and Co." in which the imprint in the reprint was changed to that of "Ward, Lock, Bowden and Co." The Picture of Dorian Gray is Oscar Wilde's first novel, and was first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, July 1890. Six new chapters are added to this first appearance in book form, with many other additions and variations. On its first appearance this book was violently attacked by the critics and its publication did Wilde a great deal of harm. Mason 328. HBS 69104. $3,750.

Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.