Books

London: Ward, Lock and Co, 1891. Full Description: WILDE, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. London: Ward Lock and Co., [n.d., 1891]. First edition first issue in book form. Octavo (6 7/8 x 4 3/4 inches; 175 x 120 mm). vii, [1, blank], 334 pp. Bound without the final blank leaf. Title-page designed by Charles Ricketts. With the typographic error at the beginning of line 23 of page 208 ("nd" instead of "and" - this was corrected for the July 1891 signed limited edition). Rebound to the style of original in quarter parchment over gray paper-covered beveled boards. Grey endpapers. Top edge gilt. Leaf B2 with tiny repair to bottom margin, not affecting text. Bottom outer corners repaired to leaves C1-C3, E1, I1, T4, V7 and X2. Leaf X7 with a one-inch closed tear to fore-edge margin, just touching one letter. Despite the small amount of wear, a wonderful example of this controversial novel. This edition can be distinguished from the (also undated) 1895 reprint by the “Ward Lock…

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a novel by Oscar Wilde that follows a young man named Dorian Gray, who becomes the subject of a painting. As Dorian engages in a hedonistic and amoral lifestyle, he finds that the portrait reflects the consequences of his actions on his soul, while he himself remains young and beautiful.