The Ballad of Reading Gaol

The Ballad of Reading Gaol by C.3.3. [Oscar Wilde]

London: Leonard Smithers, [1899], 1907/08.

Large post 8vo; pp. viii+31.

According to Stuart Mason's Bibliography of Oscar Wilde, this is the pirated edition published towards the very end of 1907 or beginning of 1908, after Leonard Smithers' death (the publisher). Identified as the unauthorised edition due to the lack of publisher's address on the title page, and the final unauthorised edition due to Oscar Wilde's name appearing on the spine (Mason, 585). Similar in appearance to Smithers' edition of 1899.

A relatively scarce edition of the final pirated copy of this important work from Oscar Wilde, initially published in 1898 under the pseudonym "C.3.3." after Wilde's cell in Reading Gaol (the third cell on the third landing of Gallery C). Wilde had been incarcerated in Reading after 'gross indecency with other men' in 1895 and was sentenced to two years' hard labour.

Arguably, this is Oscar Wilde's most successful poem and was his last work before his death in 1900.

Condition

Poor, but complete condition. Publisher's original, darker cinnamon-coloured linen sides and quarter-bound in white linen; spine lettered in gilt with both title and author's name. Very grubby and marked externally, with heavy darkening to spine, bumping and fraying to corners and spine tips. Foxing and dust marks to edges. Spine heavily cocked. Heavy foxing to prelims and sporadically throughout. Joints are light worn, hinges are OK. Within, many breaks with netting exposed and some pages partially loose, only hanging by a few threads. Small, neat inscription and date in pen to top right-corner of FFEP, and sporadically one or two penciled inscriptions or highlights throughout that can be erased.

Complete, but very shabby condition overall; could use resewing at a minimum.