Books

London: Leonard Smithers, 1899. First Edition. First Edition. Quarto. Original gilt-stamped mauve cloth with superb and famous decorative design on both covers and spine by Charles Shannon. An amazing copy, apart from very small nick on front cover, a fine copy, with no little to no fading to color-sensitive covers, no loss of gilt, corners barely bumped, front and back hinges fully intact, and the entire contents almost as new, with slight browning to rear fly leaf! Rarely seen thus. Limited to 1000 numbered copies, this copy unnumbered, as often seen. The play opened in February, 1895 in London, and met with instant acclaim. However, the premiere was nearly ruined when the Marquess of Queensberry, angry at Wilde's affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, his son, tried to break into the theater and disrupt the play. This is the best copy we have ever seen of this title.

A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

First edition printings of The Importance of Being Earnest are identified by the publisher 'Leonard Smithers and Co.' on the title page, and tasteful periodic typographical ornaments sprinkled throughout.