The Important of Being Earnest inscribed by Oscar Wilde
A specially printed copy of The Importance of Being Earnest inscribed by Oscar Wilde to Major James Nelson, the Governor of Reading Gaol during the writer’s term of imprisonment there sold for £55,000 at Bonhams Books, Atlases, Manuscripts and Photographs sale in London today. It had been estimated at £40,000 – 60,000
The copy, numbered 13 out of a presentation edition of 100, is inscribed “To Major Nelson: from the author. A trivial recognition of a great and noble kindness. Feb, 99.” Elsewhere the Irish writer and wit was to describe Nelson as: “The most Christlike man I ever met.”
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for Tuesday, May 13, 2014).