The Priest and the ACOLYTE John Bloxham, Stuart Mason 2nd ed 1907 Oscar WILDE vg

London: Lotus Press, 1907. First Edition, thus. 

Tall 12mo (21.5cm). In the grey paper backed boards, with title label to cover and to spine.

Ample provenance for this copy: inked previous owner's name of Geoffrey Byrne, dated 1924 to front pastedown; and of Alec L(?) Ellis to flyleaf. To rear pastedown, the well-designed bookplate of Nicholas Wilde, a collector of Uranian materials and illustrator of at least one such work.

Reprinted, after its anonymous appearance in The Chameleon magazine of 1894, with the new preface by Stuart Mason (Christopher Sclater Millard), Oscar Wilde’s first bibliographer, showing that Wilde was not the author of the book. An important element in the lead up to Wilde’s downfall. 

The controversy around the title stemmed from its mentions in the infamous Queensberry libel trial of 1895, where it was raised by Queensberry’s defence as to Wilde’s authorship and views on the story. 

pp. 71. Rough trimmed page edges. Top corners rounded, somewhat rubbed and worn, a few faint marks to boards, top edges spotted, but a very nice copy, internally clean, binding tight.

Very good.