The Ballad Of Reading Gaol; By C.3.3. [First Edition, First Printing] Oscar Wilde Classic Literature

8vo. 31pp. Publisher s quarter cloth spine with mustard coloured cloth to boards. Untrimmed. First edition, first printing. | Corners slightly bumped. Oval circle of light discolouration to upper board. Small chipping to lower spine end. No bookplate, inscriptions or handwritings. A very good copy. One of 800 copies printed on handmade paper. | The finished poem was published by Leonard Smithers 13 February 1898: 800 unnumbered copies on handmade paper and 30 numbered copies on Japanese vellum. Published under the name C.3.3. , which stood for cell block C; landing 3; cell 3. This ensured that Wilde s name by then notorious did not appear on the poem s title page. Wilde s name did not occur on the title page until the 7th printing in June 189. The first edition of 800 copies sold out within a week. A second edition was printed 24 February 1898, 1000 copies also sold well. A third edition of 99 copies signed by author was printed on 17 March 1898. On realease from prison, Wilde immediately left for France and never returned for Ireland and Britain. There he wrote his last work, «The Ballad of Reading Gaol», - a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life. Oscar Wilde died at age 46 from meningitis, - at Hotel d Alsace, Saint Germain-des-Pres, Paris, 30 November 1900.