An Ideal Husband. By the Author of Lady Windermere’s Fan. London: Leonard Smither’s and Co., 1899. First Edition. Pp, 211, uncut & unopened. Publisher’s salmon pink cloth covers, stylized leaf motifs by Charles Shannon in gilt to spine and covers, edges untrimmed. Pale ring mark to upper cover & darker marks to lower board; fraying to head & tail of spine, contents in good condition. Ownership name to endpaper dated September 1899.

One Thousand Copies Printed.

‘An Ideal Husband’ opened in London on 3rd January 1895 and closed on 6th April, the day after Wilde’s arrest (the theatre was actually needed for another play). It reopened at another theatre on 13 April, but was finally withdrawn two weeks later.

The play remained unpublished until after Wilde’s release from prison. It was published in July 1899 while Wilde was living in France, with a dedication to Frank Harris. 

[Mason 386].