[FINE PRESS -- BEAR PRESS]. WILDE. Die Nachtigall und die Rose…1982. ONE OF 10 ON VELLUM.
Sale 2065 - Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana
Nov 14, 2024
9:00AM CT
Live / Chicago
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$8,000 -
12,000
Lot Description
[FINE PRESS -- BEAR PRESS]. WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900). Die Nachtigall und die Rose. Drei Märchen. Bayreuth: [Printed by Chr. Scheufele Offizin, Stuttgart, for] Bear Press, 1982.
8vo. Text printed in red and black, 3 initials in gold; 4 original etchings SIGNED AND NUMBERED BY PETER KLITSCH. Publisher's burgundy morocco by Erwin Lehr, upper cover with central gilt rose within a sunken-in panel, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, wide turn-ins gilt; suede slipcase.
LIMITED EDITION, number "I" of "X" copies PRINTED ON VELLUM of a total edition of 220. This third work of the Bear Press includes Wilde's fairy tales "The Nightengale and the Rose," "The Happy Prince," and "The Selfish Giant," which were among Wilde's early successes. The stories' "permanent place in child affections refutes the vulgarism that Wilde's literary reputation arose from his legal notoriety. In all cases [the fairy tales] are on the child's side celebrating the courage and generosity of the poor and vulnerable, while their satire mocks the kind of pomposity and hypocrisy that children can recognize" (ODNB). A VERY FINE COPY.
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