Lot 357
WILDE, Oscar ("C. 3. 3."). The Ballad of Reading Gaol. FIRST EDITION.
Sale 1241 - Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, including Americana
Nov 10, 2023
9:00AM CT
Live / Chicago
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Estimate
$800 -
1,200
Price Realized
$1,008
Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
WILDE, Oscar ("C. 3. 3.") (1854-1900). The Ballad of Reading Gaol. London: Leonard Smithers 1898.
8vo. Original cream cloth-backed mustard cloth, spine gilt (some overall soiling, a touch of wear to corners, endleaves toned). Provenance: Myrtle A. Crummer (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION, one of 800 copies on hand-made paper. Wilde wrote his poem in exile in Berneval-le-Grand after his release from Reading Gaol on 19 May 1897, where he was incarcerated for gross indecency. His pseudonym, "C. 3. 3." stood for cell block C, landing 3, cell 3; his identity as the author was unknown until the seventh printing of the work in 1899. Mason 371.
Property from the Collection of Robert S. Brown, Cincinnati, Ohio
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