![WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) and Lord Alfred DOUGLAS (1870-1945; contributors)—[Jack BLOXAM (ed.)]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2025/CKS/2025_CKS_22992_0155_001(wilde_oscar_and_lord_alfred_douglas_8212jack_bloxam_the_chameleon_vol113556).jpg?w=1)
![WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) and Lord Alfred DOUGLAS (1870-1945; contributors)—[Jack BLOXAM (ed.)]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2025/CKS/2025_CKS_22992_0155_000(wilde_oscar_and_lord_alfred_douglas_8212jack_bloxam_the_chameleon_vol105641).jpg?w=1)
The Chameleon, vol. I, no. 1. London: Gay and Bird, 1894.
Details
WILDE, Oscar (1854-1900) and Lord Alfred DOUGLAS (1870-1945; contributors)—[Jack BLOXAM (ed.)]
The Chameleon, vol. I, no. 1. London: Gay and Bird, 1894.
First and only issue, no.14 of 100 copies, of an Oxford undergraduate magazine that was used to influence the jury against Wilde in his trial for gross indecency. The Chameleon was founded and edited by Jack Bloxam and sought to continue the traditions of Douglas's magazine The Spirit Lamp. Bloxam was introduced to Wilde by George Ives, and solicited contributions from both Wilde and Douglas; Wilde's 'Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young' appears on pp.1-3 and Douglas's poems 'In Praise of Shame' and 'Two Loves' on pp.25-28 (the latter of which including the now-famous phrase ‘the love that dare not speak its name’). Bloxam's own contribution was the unsigned story 'The Priest and the Acolyte', which quickly attracted condemnation for its homosexual overtones, and Sir Edward Carson attempted to imply that Wilde's appearance in the same magazine as Bloxam's story not only suggested approval of it, but that Wilde was also in some way responsible for the magazine. Mason 11.
Quarto (260 x 190mm). Original green card wrappers, printed in dark green, untrimmed (light spotting, a few closed tears of which one repaired, some small chips, the largest to the bottom edge of lower wrapper, faint crease to upper wrapper, slight separation at hinges); modern green cloth portfolio and morocco-backed slipcase.
The Chameleon, vol. I, no. 1. London: Gay and Bird, 1894.
First and only issue, no.14 of 100 copies, of an Oxford undergraduate magazine that was used to influence the jury against Wilde in his trial for gross indecency. The Chameleon was founded and edited by Jack Bloxam and sought to continue the traditions of Douglas's magazine The Spirit Lamp. Bloxam was introduced to Wilde by George Ives, and solicited contributions from both Wilde and Douglas; Wilde's 'Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young' appears on pp.1-3 and Douglas's poems 'In Praise of Shame' and 'Two Loves' on pp.25-28 (the latter of which including the now-famous phrase ‘the love that dare not speak its name’). Bloxam's own contribution was the unsigned story 'The Priest and the Acolyte', which quickly attracted condemnation for its homosexual overtones, and Sir Edward Carson attempted to imply that Wilde's appearance in the same magazine as Bloxam's story not only suggested approval of it, but that Wilde was also in some way responsible for the magazine. Mason 11.
Quarto (260 x 190mm). Original green card wrappers, printed in dark green, untrimmed (light spotting, a few closed tears of which one repaired, some small chips, the largest to the bottom edge of lower wrapper, faint crease to upper wrapper, slight separation at hinges); modern green cloth portfolio and morocco-backed slipcase.
