Books

Signed, first edition of Oscar Wilde's incredibly scarce "The Happy Prince and Other Tales." David Nutt, publisher. Ballantyne Press. Quarto, handmade paper. Original boards in Japanese vellum. Limited edition, number 14 of 75, signed by both Oscar Wilde and publisher David Nutt. Publication date: 1888. Stunning illustrations: front cover design in red ink by Jacob Hood, as well as head and tailpiece vignettes. Plates by Walter Crane. No dust jacket, as issued. Published before well before Wilde's incarceration and trial and before his best known works such as "The Portrait of Dorian Gray" and "The Importance of Being Earnest". The fairy tales, written for his children originally, include "The Happy Prince," "The Nightingale and the Rose," "The Selfish Giant," "The Devoted Friend," and "The Remarkable Rocket." Evidence of previous tape repair on spine exterior, and front and rear boards, with chipping and loss on spine. Interior tape repair on inner hinge and evidence…

The Happy Prince and Other Tales is a collection of five stories that teach profound life lessons through fantasy narrative. Oscar Wilde uses poignant and whimsical storytelling to touch on themes of selflessness, compassion, and love.