Bibliofemme News
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29/10/2004
Oscar Wilde collection sold for over €1m
A collection of books, letters and photographs relating to Oscar Wilde were sold at auction in London today with an original handwritten chapter of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' fetching over €103,000 alone.
Sotheby's is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the celebrated writer's birth with the auction of a private collection, which included first editions, inscribed presentation copies, letters, manuscripts, and photographs.
The auction house described the material as "the finest collection of Oscar Wilde material remaining in private hands".
There were more than 100 lots and highlights include a revised manuscript of Chapter 16 of The Picture of Dorian Gray; a first edition of the novel, inscribed to his friend the French writer Marcel Schwob; and an inscribed presentation copy of The Importance of Being Earnest.
One of only two existing copies of an unpublished novel by Wilde's lover Lord Alfred Douglas was also included.
The total sale was valued at over €1.2m; the auction house had expected the items to fetch over €800,000.
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