This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2025
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.