The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
New York: Benj. R. Tucker; Blumenberg Press, [1899].
Duodecimo (18.5 x 13.5 cm.), [8], 44 pages. Second American Edition. Preceded by the Brentano's edition (circa 1898) though often considered the first American edition. This edition was published in two states, the first in which the text appears on rectos only and some leaves are untrimmed; in the second the text is printed on rectos and versos: "Both editions, that printed on one side and that printed on both sides, are from the same type. It is therefore clear that they are not two independent editions, but the one-side issue constitutes merely a kind of de-luxe variety, while the two-sided is a cheaper, popular version of the same edition" (Horodisch, pages 76-77). This copy comports with the first state, with text printed one side only. A printer's binder's issue is extant, as at least one leaf is hinged at the top edge. Is it possible that what Horodisch thought a deluxe issue is merely error, some of which made it to the wild? Issued by Benjamin R. Tucker, the noted anarchist publisher and editor of the journal Liberty, in which Tucker published the essay "The Criminal Jailers of Oscar Wilde" in 1895. Tucker and Emma Goldman were two of the few Americans to publicly defend Wilde during his trial (George Haggerty, Encyclopedia of Gay Histories and Cultures (2013), page 52. In publisher's two-toned cloth (white over blue), upper cover lettered and ruled in gilt, unadorned spine. Some minor shelf wear, white portion of cloth binding rather soiled and toned along spine, short closed tear to title page fore-edge not approaching text, old ink spot affecting first few leaves, else interior fine. Very Good and sound overall.
Price: $900.00