Holographed Oscar Wilde ephemeral items are highly collectible

Wilde, Oscar (C.3.3.) ~ The Ballad Of Reading Gaol : With An Envelope Cover (Holographed By Oscar Wilde) Pasted To The Rear Pastedown

Leonard Smithers, London : 1898

The Second UK printing published by Leonard Smithers, London in 1898. The second edition was issued within a month of the publication of the first printing. The BOOK is in in Very Good++ condition. Original boards, vellum spine and gilt titling. Some light age related markings to the vellum and boards. Light spotting and some offsetting to the blank end-papers. A small previous owner's bookplate to the front pastedown. An Envelope Cover in the holograph of Oscar Wilde has been pasted to the rear pastedown. This envelope is addressed to Wilde's publisher Leonard Smithers. It is dated ‘28/10/97’ and is stamped with an Italian postal stamp. In another hand, is written 'auto. of Oscar wilde, 28/X/97'. In September of 1897, shortly after leaving Britain, Wilde moved with Alfred Douglas to Naples, where they lived at the Villa Giudice at via Posillipo 37. Even though Wilde travelled under a pseudonym, his presence in the city was well-known. He did nothing to hide it, either. He spent time with Douglas in one club or another where young men hung out, but also where the literati gathered, so Wilde might find translators for his works. Wilde and Douglas lived at Villa Giudice for a few months surrounded by scandal until they were separated by their respective families under various financial threats. The threats worked; Douglas was forced to return home in early December 1897. Wilde moved to a cheap hotel at via S. Lucia, 31. He tried to have some of his works produced in Naples but without success. He left Naples in February 1898 and went to Paris, where he died destitute (http://www.naplesldm.com/wilde.php). The date, postage stamp and the ‘Posillipo, Napoli’ ink stamp on the envelope fit with Wilde recently having arrived at Naples. He would have been in contact writing to Leonard Smithers regarding the forthcoming publication of this title, which was published by Leonard Smithers on 13th February 1898 under the author name ‘C.3.3.’, which stood for cell block C, landing 3, cell 3. This ensured that Wilde's name, by then notorious, did not appear on the poem's front cover. It was not commonly known, until the 7th printing in June 1899, that ‘C.3.3.’ was actually Wilde. The first edition, of 800 copies, sold out within a week, and Smithers announced that a second edition would be ready within another week. This second edition was printed on 24th February 1898, in a 1,000 copies, and also sold very well. Holographed Oscar Wilde ephemeral items are highly collectible.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++