Wilde, Oscar
£800
Printed Books, Maps and Manuscripts
Auction: 11 July 2006 at 12:00 BST
Description
After Reading, Letters from Oscar Wilde to Robert Ross. London: The Beaumont Press, 1921, 8vo, number 84 of 400 copies, cover and decorations designed by Ethelbert White, presentation copy to Alex Ross from Wilde's son V.B. Holland, autograph letter signed from Holland to Alec Ross [Robert's brother] pasted to prelim dated April 20th 1921, further inserts throughout by Holland discussing contents of letters, original decorative paper boards, small hole to upper board, some discolouration, interior very clean; Ibid. After Berneval, Letters from Oscar Wilde to Robert Ross. London: The Beaumont Press, 1922, 8vo, number 84 of 475 copies, cover and decorations by Randolph Swabe, presentation copy from V.B. Holland to Alec Ross, autograph signed letter pasted to prelim dated April 4th 1922, further inserts throughout discussing publication/ editing of letters, original decorative paper boards, some discolouration, corners bumped, interior clean (2)
Footnote
Provenance: Family provenance from Alex Ross, brother of Robert Ross, to his sister Mary Ross. Bookplates of Commander W. B.C Ross [husband of Mary Ross] in each volume.
Note: Robert Ross (1869-1918) arrived in England from Canada at an early age. It is thought that he was Oscar Wilde's first homosexual lover and remained loyal to Wilde throughout his life. As Wilde's literary executor, it was Ross who was responsible for the recirculation and reprinting of Wilde's works after the poet's death in 1900. Unfortunately, he didn't leave to see these works completed.