29th Jun, 2023 9:30
The June Fine Art & Antiques Auction
Estimate £2,000-£3,000
Wilde, Oscar: (1854-1900) writer, an original signed letter, to 'Cook' [believed Edward Tyas Cook (1857-1919), a journalist who worked at the Pall Mall Gazette, and later founder of the Westminster Gazette in 1893], 7 pages, undated and on 'Castle Hotel, Windsor' headed paper, reading 'My Dear Cook, I was very much pleased with the article. it was exceedingly fair and the whole tone of it right. And I must thank you for upholding your services. I think however that the rule about inverted commas is a little strict. For instance: in Roden Noel's book there occurs this amazing sentence. "I know not any artist of note, unless it be Edgar Poe, Bulver[?], Lytton, Disraeli, Mr Alfred Austin whom we may affiliate on Byron"!!! I quote it as follows... 'that Edgar Poe, Disraeli and Mr Alfred Austin are "artists of note whom we may affiliate on Byron". I have removed the inverted commas in my proof - but I think they might have stood. I have done Skipsey and two other posts for you - you will have the M.S. [manuscript] on Monday. I return to town tomorrow morning. Have you any more books for me? I suppose Henry James' last novel is being done? Very sincerely yours, Oscar Wilde.' The letter is likely to date from early 1877 - Wilde had submitted a review of Joseph Skipsey's 'Carols from the Coal Fields' to the Pall Mall Gazette at this time.
From the estate of the late Peter Farley, https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/nov/17/peter-farley-obituary
Sold for £16,000
Condition Report
Pages loose, Browning and finger marks to edges, especially the first.
Wilde, Oscar: (1854-1900) writer, an original signed letter, to 'Cook' [believed Edward Tyas Cook (1857-1919), a journalist who worked at the Pall Mall Gazette, and later founder of the Westminster Gazette in 1893], 7 pages, undated and on 'Castle Hotel, Windsor' headed paper, reading 'My Dear Cook, I was very much pleased with the article. it was exceedingly fair and the whole tone of it right. And I must thank you for upholding your services. I think however that the rule about inverted commas is a little strict. For instance: in Roden Noel's book there occurs this amazing sentence. "I know not any artist of note, unless it be Edgar Poe, Bulver[?], Lytton, Disraeli, Mr Alfred Austin whom we may affiliate on Byron"!!! I quote it as follows... 'that Edgar Poe, Disraeli and Mr Alfred Austin are "artists of note whom we may affiliate on Byron". I have removed the inverted commas in my proof - but I think they might have stood. I have done Skipsey and two other posts for you - you will have the M.S. [manuscript] on Monday. I return to town tomorrow morning. Have you any more books for me? I suppose Henry James' last novel is being done? Very sincerely yours, Oscar Wilde.' The letter is likely to date from early 1877 - Wilde had submitted a review of Joseph Skipsey's 'Carols from the Coal Fields' to the Pall Mall Gazette at this time.
ProvenanceFrom the estate of the late Peter Farley, https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/nov/17/peter-farley-obituary
