Skip to Content

WILDE, Oscar. Autograph letter signed ("Oscar Wilde"), to Mr. Dowdeswell, London, n.d. 2 pages, 8vo, on 16 Tite Street stationery. -

Contemporary, modern and old century works of art at auction for buyers and collectors at Christie’s auction house

View, register and bid for sales

WILDE, Oscar. Autograph letter signed ("Oscar Wilde"), to Mr. Dowdeswell, London, n.d. 2 pages, 8vo, on 16 Tite Street stationery.
Price Realized
(Set Currency)
  • $4,000
  • Price includes buyer's premium
Estimate
    $1,200 - $1,800

Sale Information

Sale 2227
Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana
4 December 2009
New York, Rockefeller Plaza





Lot Description

WILDE, Oscar. Autograph letter signed ("Oscar Wilde"), to Mr. Dowdeswell, London, n.d. 2 pages, 8vo, on 16 Tite Street stationery.

WILDE TRIES TO GET A GALLERY SHOWING FOR AN ARTIST FRIEND. "My friend Mr. Worres," Wilde writes, "is anxious to have an exhibition of his Japanese pictures in London. Can you help and advise him? His work will interest you, I feel sure." Dowdeswell & Dowdeswell were art dealers, auctioneers and exhibition designers, founded in 1884 by C. W. Dowdeswell. It is unclear to which particular Dowdeswell Wilde addressed this letter, but Walter Dowdeswell inspired one of his great bon mots. After reading Dowdeswell's essay on Whistler in the Court and Society Review in 1887 Wilde said, "Every great man nowadays has his disciples, and it is usually Judas who writes the biography." Not in Collected Letters.

Department Information
Keywords