The Writings of Oscar Wilde (in 12 vols)

New York: Gabriel Wells, 1925. Limited to 575 numbered copies, this set being number 179. Twelve octavo volumes (221 x 143 mm.). Handsomely bound by Stikeman & Co., N.Y. ca. 1925 (stamp-signed in black on front endpapers). Full dark green crushed morocco, covers decoratively bordered and tooled in gilt. Spines with five raised bands, decoratively tooled and lettered in gilt in compartments. Red and green liners elaborately bordered and lettered in gilt, red moire silk end- leaves, top edge gilt, others uncut. Spines uniformly faded to olive green, small circular stain on front board of volume one. Title pages printed in pale blue and black, each carrying a profile portrait of Wilde in pale blue. A Near Fine set.

The handsomely produced Large Paper Edition was put out by the celebrated New York bookseller Gabriel Wells who, during the 1920s, competed in the sale rooms with the great A.S.W. Rosenbach (1876-1952). It includes introductory material by several literary luminaries including W. B. Yeats (The Happy Prince), Padraic Colum (Criticisms and Reviews), John Drinkwater (The Importance of Being Ernest/An Ideal Husband), Arthur Symons (Salome), and Wilde's one-time lover Richard Le Gallienne (Poems).