Fine Books & Manuscripts, featuring Mystery & Detective Literature
Thu, Jul 24, 2025 12:00PM EDT
Live Auction
Lot 490
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900). The Importance of Being Earnest. ...
Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $5 |
| $30 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
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.
