Wilde, Oscar.

4to (283 x 195mm.), number 1 of 75 copies signed by the author and publisher, title-page printed in red and black, frontispiece and 2 full-page illustrations by Walter Crane present in two states, head- and tail-pieces by Jacomb Hood, original Japanese vellum boards printed in red and black, collector's folding box in grey cloth, some minor spotting, hinges split with occasional splitting at gutter, minor marks to binding with spine slightly soiled

Mason 314

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

It was the success of this charming work that established Wilde's reputation as an author: The Athenaeum compared him to Hans Andersen.

The stories in The Happy Prince owe their origin to Irish oral narrative, as is affirmed by Wilde reciting the tales to his sons, "weeping for 'The Selfish Giant' when the child befriended by the giant becomes the crucified Christ who takes his protector to paradise. Their permanent place in child affections refutes the vulgarism that Wilde's literary reputation arose from his legal notoriety. In all cases they are on the child's side, celebrating the courage and generosity of the poor and vulnerable, while their satire mocks the kind of pomposity and hypocrisy children can recognize" (Owen Dudley Edwards, Oxford DNB).