WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900). The Importance of Being Earnest. ...

About Auction

Live

Fine Books & Manuscripts, featuring Mystery &...

By Potter & Potter Auctions

Jul 24, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-07-24 12:00:00 2025-07-24 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Books & Manuscripts, featuring Mystery & Detective Literature https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/potter-potter/fine-books-manuscripts-featuring-mystery-detective-literature-21879
Our summer book auction features a wide array of modern first editions, signed books, artwork, collectibles, and literary rarities across all genres and at all collecting levels. Prices Realized Potter & Potter Auctions info@potterauctions.com

View Full Catalog (615)

• Lot Description
  WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900). The Importance of Being Earnest. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People? London: Leonard Smithers and Co., 1899. Small 4to. [xiv], 1- [152] pp. Publisher's full lavender cloth, front boards and spine stamped in gilt (spine a bit sunned and rubbed, mild occasional rubbing, upper front corner a bit bumped, soiling to boards, text a bit toned, very slightly skewed). Fine, better than usually seen. FIRST EDITION, ONE OF 1,000 COPIES (THIS COPY UNNUMBERED). Wilde's "last and greatest play" (Ellman, Oscar?Wilde, p.412).?This comedy was a success on stage when it opened in 1895 but closed after 86 performances due to Wilde's arrest for ?Gross Indecency." Mason 381.
• Buyer's Premium
  • 25.00 %