Poems.

inscribed presentation copy

Fourth edition of Wilde's first poetry collection, a presentation copy inscribed from the author to Ada Maud Story (née Broadwood), wife of his friend, the sculptor Thomas Waldo Story: 'To Mrs. Waldo Story, from her friend Oscar Wilde. Paris, May 9th '83'. Additionally inscribed 'Rien n'est vrai que le Beau' on the title, and with her husband's bookplate.

Thomas Waldo Story (1854-1915) was born in Rome, the son of American Neoclassical sculptor William Wetmore Story. He was educated at Eton and Oxford before returning to Italy and joining his father's practice. The Storys cultivated an impressive clientele, including the Marlboroughs and Astors, for whom they developed large-scale decorative schemes, and Thomas Waldo is best known for the monumental two-colour marble sculpture Fountain of Love at Cliveden. In addition to Neoclassicism, he was inspired by the Aesthetic movement espoused by friends such as Wilde, who wrote to him in 1883 that Whistler 'spoke of your art with more enthusiasm than I ever heard him speak of any modern work' (Whistler Catalogue Raisonné, University of Glasgow).

The present copy was inscribed in Paris in May 1883, following the Story's April marriage, and a year prior to Wilde's own marriage. Upon becoming engaged, Wilde wrote to Thomas Waldo, 'Well, we are to be married in April, as you were, and then go to Paris, and perhaps to Rome—what do you think? Will Rome be nice in May? I mean, will you and Mrs Waldo be there, and the Pope, and the Peruginos?… Her name is Constance and she is quite young, very grave, and mystical... quite perfect except that she does not think Jimmy the only painter that ever really existed: she would like to bring Titian or somebody in by the back door: however, she knows I am the greatest poet, so in literature she is all right: and I have explained to her that you are the greatest sculptor: art instruction cannot go further'.

Fourth edition, inscribed presentation copy; single leaf of publisher's ads at rear, bookplate of Waldo Story, free endpapers tanned, light spotting to the title and blanks and occasionally to the contents; publisher's parchment boards blocked in gilt, binding rubbed with some wear at the tips and a few spots and marks, including a 1cm mark on the upper board, spine rolled, very good condition; 234pp.