First edition, limited to 800 copies, this being number 655. Original cream cloth with elaborate gilt decoration designed by Charles Ricketts. Top edge gilt. Title page with vignette in red by Stephen Gooden. Typography by Francis Meynell. A near fine copy, the binding square and tight with a little rubbing to the corners and extremities and a slight bump to the foot of the spine. The contents with tanning to the endpapers and one spot of foxing to the textblock edge are otherwise clean throughout and free from any previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Lacking the plain black dustwrapper. A bright copy of this attractive production.
A biographical essay by Charles Ricketts of his friend Oscar Wilde, taking the form of a conversation between Ricketts and the imaginary Jean Paul Raymond. Ricketts had collaborated with Wilde on a number of books, most notably designing the binding and illustrations for the latter's celebrated poem 'The Sphinx' (1894).
Stock code: 18925
£150