The Picture of Dorian Gray

1. “Pre-existing draft(s)

unknown

“… Wilde copied his holograph text now at the Morgan Library [no. 2] from a pre-existing draft. … the earlier text was more or less a complete draft of the novel as it appears now in the Morgan Library holograph.“
(Lawler “Oscar Wilde’s First Manuscript“, p. 134)

“We may infer from the evidence of the Morgan holograph that the proto-manuscript was a working version of the entire story and was probably heavily corrected  and reworked by the author.“
(Lawler, 1988, p. XIn)

“The manuscript, held at the J. P. Morgan Library, comprises 265 pages whose general state of legibility suggests that it is a fair copy of an earlier draft.“
(Bristow, Complete Works, vol. III, p. xxxv)

2. Autograph Manuscript

13 chapters

264 leaves

[1889-1890]

The Morgan Library & Museum
New York, NY

MA 883

digital copy:
https://bit.ly/2OKl0M4

A facsimile of the complete ms. was published in a Limited Deluxe Edition by SP Books (Édition Saint Pères), EU 2018 

purchased June 30, 1913, from Eugene Meyer, Jr.
[inscription inside of back cover]

Brown morocco

“At the top of the first page, the name and address ‘ J. B. Lippincott’s Comp, 10 Henrietta St., Covent Garden’ have been inserted in a another hand.“ 

[Wilde has written on the recto only]

“… the holograph manuscript … stamped with the seal of Lippincott’s London agent.“ (Frankel Dorian Gray, p. 43)

Facsimile of page 1 of chapter 1 in Mason, Art and Morality, facing p. 120 

[around that time in the possession of Christopher Millard/Robert Ross?? – but J. M. Stoddart or his friend Ferdinand Haber actually had the complete manuscript in their possession till it was auctioned off in 1909 and purchased by Eugene Meyer Jr.]

“The Clark typescript [no. 3] was prepared from this manuscript.“
(Small, Oscar Wilde Revalued, p. 116)

“Given that some sections of the manuscript involve very small amounts of correction, it would seem that this document comprises a fair copy of earlier drafts, which have never been found [no. 1].“
(Bristow, Complete Works, vol. III, p. lxii)

“On turning to the manuscript, we quickly apprehend that particular aspects of both the dialogue and the omniscient narration involved considerable amounts of rewriting. First, Wilde paid significant attention to nature of the exchanges that take place between Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, and Lord Henry … Secondly, he decided to remove some of the short instances of reported speech in French that occur between Dorian Gray and his valet. Thirdly, Wilde proved vigilant in not keeping any wording that might make his narrator sound too didactic.“
(ibid.)

Eugene Meyer, Jr.

“It was bought by J. Sabin for Mr. Eugene Meyer, Jr. for one thousand dollars. The holograph was acquired for the collection of John Pierpont Morgan on June 30, 1913. The source of this information is a letter from Herbert Cahoon, curator of autograph manuscripts for the Morgan Library.“
(Lawler, An Enquiry, p. 145)

J. F. Sabin

see below The New York Times, Dec. 12, 1909, p. 11

Library of Louis J. Haber, part II, Andersons Auction Company, Dec. 7-8, 1909, lot 1776 

[part I sold Dec. 1-2, 1909]

“The original autograph manuscript of this author’s most famous work, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’

Written on 264 folio sheets, signed by the author in full, ’Oscar Wilde.’ With specially printed title in red and black, and a fine early three-quarters length photograph of the writer (probably executed in America). The manuscript as here presented is bound in a small folio  volume in full blown morocco, lettered on the side, by Stikeman.

…

The author’s corrections are numerous throughout.“

“… collectors were not surprised when $1.000 was paid for it at the Haber sale last week. It was knocked down by J. F. Sabin, who, when asked for whom he acted, declined to say. Some were of the opinion that it was purchased for J. Pierpont Morgan, whom Sabin has often represented at auction sales, but others believed it was bought for an English collector of Wilde items.“
(The New York Times, Dec. 12, 1909, p. 11)

“Original Autograph Manuscript of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ 264 leaves, for., signed. With photograph. Bound in lev. more. Haber, A., Dec. 7, ’09. (1776) $1000.00. (American Book-Prices Current, vol. XVI, 1910, p. 889)

“A few Items will show the startling advance in prices since Mr. Haber acquired his collection, for Instance, an Oscar Wilde manuscript of ‘Dorian Gray,’ for which he paid $70, sold for $1000 …“
(Boston Evening Transcript, Boston, June 8, 1910, p. 23)

Ferdinand I. Haber, son of Louis J. Haber

“Perhaps most compellingly, when Stoddart was planning in 1906 to issue a new edition of the novel, he intended to base it on this manuscript, which was then in the possession of Stoddart’s friend Ferdinand I. Haber (and which Haber referred to, in his correspondence with Stoddart, as ‘our manuscript’).“
(Frankel, Dorian Gray, p. 43)

J. M. Stoddart

“Stoddart or one of his associates possessed as well the holograph fair-copy manuscript that, earlier in 1890, Wilde had submitted to Miss Dickens’s Typewriting Service, in the Strand [3, Tavistock Street, Wellington Street], as ‘copy’ for the production of the typescript.“
(ibid., pp. 42-3)

“Stoddart received Wilde’s typescript in Philadelphia on April 7, 1890 … .“
(ibid. p. 45)

“Stoddart had the actual MS. of this novel and he sold it a few years before his death, around 1910.“
(The Bookman’s Journal and Print Collector, vol. XI, Oct. 1924, p. 42) [see also provenance to no. 3] 

3. Typewritten Manuscript

231 leaves

[1890]

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
University of California, Los Angeles, CA

W6721M3 P611

no digital copy

purchased in December 1933, from A. S. W. Rosenbach

“Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900.
[The picture of Dorian Gray].
Boxed. Typescript. 231 leaves. 10×8 in.; Original typescript with corrections and emendations in Oscar Wilde’s hand. Bound in full gray French levant morocco, gilt tooled. Boxed in full gray French levant morocco. 11-1/4×9-3/4×3 in.; English; Wilde W6721M3 P611.
Reel: 25, Item No. 9“

“The picture of Dorian Gray. 1890
Typescript. 231 leaves. Bound in full gray French levant morocco, gilt tooled. Boxed in full gray French levant morocco. Original typescript with corrections and emendations in Wilde’s hand.“

[Miss Dickens’s Type Writing Office]

“[The picture of Dorian Gray]
Typescript. 231 leaves. 10×8 in.
Original typescript with corrections and emendations in Oscar Wilde’s hand.
Bound in full gray French levant morocco, gilt tooled. Boxed in full gray French levant morocco. 11-1/4×9-3/4×3 in.“
(Finzi 2476)

“… on the top sheet of which Stoddart at some point had lightly inscribed, ‘This is the original copy of Dorian Gray, J. M. Stoddart’ …“
(Frankel, Dorian Gray, p. 42)

“Printer’s copy text … John Marshall Stoddart, the editor, then made his own series of emendations and deletions …“
(Lawler, 1988, p. XI)

“The Clark TS shows none of the revisions Wilde made in the text of the Lippincott’s version, suggesting that he did his work for the revised edition on tearsheets.“
(ibid., p. Xn)

“Typescript in 231 leaves, with extensive corrections and emendations in ink and pencil in Wilde’s hand; a few are not in Wilde’s hand. There are six leaves of MS additions to the text (at f. 27 – 1 leaf; at f. 162 – 3 leaves; at f. 164 – 2 leaves). The final page carries Wilde’s signature. Material from the sale catalogue boxed with the MS claims that it formed the copy-text for the Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine publication of novel in 1890.“
(Small, Oscar Wilde Revalued, p. 145)

A. S. W. Rosenbach

“Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach gave $500 for the original signed typescript of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ with six leaves in manuscript.“
(The New York Times, Nov. 4, 1933, p. 13)

“The typescript was bought by the dealer A. S. W. Rosenbach for William Andrews Clark in December 1933 …“
(Lawler, An Enquiry, pp. 147-8)

The Splendid Library formed by the late Edward Dean Richmond, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries, New York, Nov. 2-3, 1933, lot 362

“Author’s Typewritten Copy of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. Signed at the end, in ink: ‘Oscar Wilde’. Bound in a 4to volume, full gray French levant morocco, sides with gilt fillets, broad inside border elaborately gilt tooled, with floral designs onlaid in morocco of various colors, doublures of brown levant morocco, fly-leaves of white watered silk, with the Richmond crest in gilt on front cover, by Zucker. 

This is without doubt the original manuscript from which the earliest issue of this story was printed in ’Lippincott’s Magazine’  for July, 1890, containing 13 chapters. The manuscripts consists of about 42,000 words, typewritten on 231 quarto leaves, with about three thousand eight hundred  words (including six leaves completely in manuscript, inserted between pp. 27-28, 161-162 and 163-164) in ink entirely in the autograph of Oscar Wilde. On the margin of the first leaf is written, in pencil, in the autograph of J. M. Stoddart, the publisher, and signed: ’This is the original copy of Dorian Gray. J. M. Stoddart.’

Laid in the volume is an A.L.s. signed with the ‘butterfly’, from James MacNeill Whistler to ‘Dear Mr. Vivian’, 2 pp., 12mo, 21 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea [1890]. The letter relates to the ‘terrible critique’ of Oscar Wilde’s ‘Dorian Gray’, and reads in part: ‘Bring with you the words of welcome. The proof of the whims of the wounded is capital. Have you seen Oscars Ietter in last night’s St. James, also the terrible critique upon his book In the ‘St. James’s of Tuesday or Wednesday?’ From the John D. Stetson, Jr. collection, with bookplate. 

Accompanying this manuscript is a copy of Lippincott’s Magazine for July, 1890, containing (pp. 1-100) the first american appearance of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, 8vo, wrappers, uncut; the story appeared simultaneously in the English edition of the magazine.“

[with a facsimile of p. 89 of the typewritten manuscript, see frontispiece ]

“Typed copy of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ signed, as printed in ‘Lippincott’s Magazine’ for July, 1890, 13 chapters, about 42,000 words, on 231 4to leaves, with about 3,800 words (including 6 leaves in MS., inserted between pp. 27-28, 161-162 and 163-164) in autograph. On margin of first leaf is pencil A.N.S. of J. M. Stoddart: ‘This is the original copy of Dorian Gray.’ Bound, 4to, tooled and inlaid lev. mor., Richmond crest on cover, by Zucker (laid in is A.L.S. of Whistler, bookplate of John B. Stetson,). With a copy of above issue of ‘Lippincott’s Magazine.’ N (362) $500.00“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XL, 1935, p. 657)

Edward Dean Richmond

“By a provision in his will his books and manuscripts are to be sold for the benefit of the Kips Bay Boys Club of New York.“
(The New York Times, Oct. 29, 1933, p. 72)

?A. S. W. Rosenbach

Rare Books and Manuscripts, Many of Superlative Importance, Including the Property of a Prominent Pennsylvania Collector, American Art Association, New York, April, 22-24, 1924, lot 851

“Author’s Typewritten Copy of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ Signed, at end, in ink, – Oscar Wilde. Manuscript of about 42,000 words, typewritten on 231 quarto leaves, with about Three Thousand Eight Hundred Words (including Seven [i.e. six] Leaves Completely in Manuscript, inserted between pp. 27-28, 161-162 and 163-164), in ink, Entirely in the Autograph of Oscar Wilde. 4to, full gray French levant morocco, sides with gilt fillets, broad inside border elaborately gilt tooled, with floral designs inlaid in morocco of various colors, doublures of brown levant morocco; fly-leaves of white watered-silk, By Zucker. Enclosed in fire-proofed solander case of full gray French levant morocco, gilt lettered back, fillets in gilt on sides.

This is without doubt the original manuscript from which the earliest issue of this story was printed in ’Lippincott’s Magazine’ for July, 1890, containing 13 chapters. On the margin of the first leaf is written, in pencil, in the autograph of J. M. Stoddart, the publisher, and signed, – ‘This is the original copy of Dorian Gray. J. M. Stoddart.’

Accompanying the above, is an Autograph Letter Signed, with the ‘Butterfly’ from James McNeill Whistler to ‘Dear Mr. Vivian,’ 2 pp. 12mo, 21, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea [1890]. The letter relates to the ‘terrible critique’ of Oscar Wllde’s ’Dorian Gray,’ …“

[with a reproduction of part of an autograph manuscript page of chapter XI, p. 208 (1891)]

“Typed MS., ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ Signed, at end. 231 pp., 4to, about 42,000 words, with about 3,800 words, on sheets, inserted between pp. 27-28, 161-162, and 163-164. Pencilled note of attestation by J. M. Stoddart on first page. Bnd. lev. mor., inlaid, in mor. case, by Zucker. With A.L.S. of J. McN. Whistler to ‘Dear Mr Vivian.’ G., April 22, ’24. (851) $800.00.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXX, 1924, p. 839)

???

resold by Rosenbach, Sept. 18, 1920 (to ???)
(see The Rosenbach, personal correspondence, Jan. 21, 2022)

A. S. W. Rosenbach

purchased for $670

“Many of these items [of the Stetson sale] – fifty-one of Rosenbach’s purchases at the auction, in fact – were destined for Colonel H. D. Hughes, as is clear from the extensive listing in Rosenbach’s sales records. … Hughes, a collector for Pennsylvania, curiously paid off his sizable balance primarily through daily installments of $100.00.“
(Mitchell and Haas, see https://bit.ly/3xpXd8k)

The Oscar Wilde Collection of John B. Stetson, Jr., Anderson Galleries, New York, April 23, 1920, lot 47

“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. The author’s type-written manuscript of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ written on 231 numbered leaves, and signed at the end in full, each leaf mounted on guard, and bound in full gray levant morocco, gilt fillet and ornamental borders, doublures of brown levant morocco, with broad ornamental border, inlaid with olive and gray, outlined with gilt and backgrounds of pointillé; flys of gray moire silk. In  gray levant morocco fire-proof solander case.

On the margin of the first leaf has been written in pencil: ’This is the original copy of Dorian Gray, J. M. Stoddart,’ and is without doubt the original manuscript from which the earliest issue of this story was printed in ’Lippincott’s Magazine’ for July, 1890, containing 13 chapters.

Six leaves have been entirely re-written in Wilde’s autograph, and throughout the Manuscript are many corrections, on some of the leaves these corrections amounting almost to Manuscript copy – all being in the author’s hand.“

“Author’s typewritten MS. of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ 13 chapters, 231 leaves, signed at the end in full, each leaf mounted on guard, and bound in le. mor, tooled, in lev. case. On the margin of first leaf has been written in pencil: ‘This is the original copy of Dorian Gray. J. M. Stoddart,’ 6 leaves re-written in Wilde’s hand. Stetson, A., April 23, ’20. (47) $670.00.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXVI, 1920, p. 1041)

John B. Stetson, Jr.

“Before being acquired by William Andrews Clark Jr. … in 1933, the typescript was sold  at a 1920 auction of Wilde items previously owned by the Wilde Collector John B. Stetson, Jr. The sheer number of items listed alongside the typescript as deriving from J. M Stoddart in the sale catalogue … strongly suggests, that Stetson – like Stoddart, a Philadelphian – acquired the the typescript from Stoddart directly.“
(Frankel, Dorian Gray, p. 58, note 16,)

J. M Stoddart

“Stoddart had the actual MS. of this novel and he sold it a few years before his death, around 1910 [see also no.2].“
(The Bookman’s Journal and Print Collector, vol. XI, Oct. 1924, p. 42)

4. Autograph Manuscript

Chapter 3 (1891)

23 pages

[1890-1]

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
University of California, Los Angeles, CA

W6721M3 P611

no digital copy

purchased on 25 May 1923, from A. S. W. Rosenbach

Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900.
[The picture of Dorian Gray. Chapter III].
Bound; English; Wilde W6721M3 P611.
Reel: 25, Item No. 10“

Facsimile of first page in Mason, Art and Morality, facing p. 152 (https://bit.ly/3rBorZ3).

[this could be an indication that the manuscript was in Millard’s / Ross’s hands at the time. 

There are certain differences between the autograph manuscript and the printed version. So one can assume that the printed version was made either from a corrected autograph manuscript or a corrected typescript of the chapter.]

“[The picture of Dorian Gray. Chapter III].
MS. 23 leaves. 13×8 in.
Manuscript draft with many corrections and alterations.
Bound in full green morocco. By Wood.
13-1/4×8-3/4×1-1/4 in.“
(Finzi 2475)

“Chapter III (1891), twenty-three leaves, was bound in green morocco by Wood on inexpensive blue-lined notebook paper with no watermark.“
(Lawler, An Enquiry, p. 149)

“Edener suggests that Chapter III was added very late, presumably after the composition of XV and XVI. He claims that since no manuscripts of XVIII and XIX survive [Edener actually talks about Chapter 17 and 18, since Chapter XIII (Lippincott’s) was divided in Chapter 19 and 20], it remains impossible to know if they were written in sequence after XV and XVI. On the basis of Edener’s discussion, it seems fair to speculate that four of the added chapters were written in the following order: XV, XVI, V, and III.“
(Bristow, Complete Works, vol. III, p. livn; see Edener, pp. xxx-xxxi)

A. S. W. Rosenbach

purchased for $425

“While he [Rosenbach] had been in England, a telegram had come to the New York office from William Andrews Clark, Jr., asking Rosenbachs to buy for him a considerable group of Oscar Wilde manuscripts offered for sale at the American Art Association [April 1923]. Jerome Brooks was then in charge of the Madison Avenue store .… He dutiful executed Clark’s commissions and obtained all the desired lots.“
(Wolf and Fleming, p. 177)

Books – Manuscripts – Drawings of Superlative Importance Acquired by or for a Noted Philadelphia Collector, American Art Association, New York, April 16-18, 1923, lot 976

i.e. “Mr Hughes“
(The Bookman’s Journal and Print Collector, vol. VIII, June 1923, p. 99)

“Original Autograph Manuscript of Chapter III of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ Manuscript of about Forty-Six Hundred Words, written in ink on one side of 23 folio leaves. Each leaf mounted on guard and bound up with blank leaves in folio, olive-green levant morocco, gilt fillet borders on sides and in back panels, facsimile signature of Oscar Wilde in gilt on front cover, doublures and fly-leaves of light green moire silk, gilt edges, by wood.

The Original Autograph Manuscript Which Was Used by the Printers. Although the Text Differs Somewhat from the Printed Version. This chapter contains Lord Henry’s exposition of his philosophy of life.

From the John B. Stetson,, Jr., collection with his bookplate.“

“MS., Chapter III of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ About 4600 words, on 23 leaves, fol. Mounted and bnd., lev. mor., g.e., by Wood. From the J. B. Stetson collection. G., April 16, ’23 (976) $425.00.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXIX,, 1923 p. 915)

Colonel H. D. Hughes

sold to Hughes, April 30, 1920
(see The Rosenbach, personal correspondence, Jan. 21, 2022)

“Many of these items [of the Stetson sale] – fifty-one of Rosenbach’s purchases at the auction, in fact – were destined for Colonel H. D. Hughes, as is clear from the extensive listing in Rosenbach’s sales records. … Hughes, a collector for Pennsylvania, curiously paid off his sizable balance primarily through daily installments of $100.00.“
(Mitchell and Haas, see https://bit.ly/3xpXd8k)

A. S. W. Rosenbach

purchased for $500 

“At the sale of the Stetson collection of Oscar Wilde at the end of April, 1920, Dr. Rosenbach swept the board almost clean, taking virtually every item of real importance. He had been a Wilde enthusiast since his college days, when it was avant-garde to be mauve. His enthusiasm had been shared by Colonel H. D. Hughes of Philadelphia, who spent over $10,000 at the sale, wisely entrusting his bids to the Doctor.“
(Wolf and Fleming, p. 135)

The Oscar Wilde Collection of John B. Stetson, Jr., Anderson Galleries, New York, April 23, 1920, lot 48

“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. The original manuscript of Chapter 3 of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ written on 23 pp. folio, and bound in full green levant morocco, gilt fillet back and sides, gilt edges, doublures and flys of white moire silk, with facsimile of Wilde’s signature on front cover, by Wood.

This chapter differs greatly with the printed version and contains many deletions, interpolations, etc.“

“MS. of Chapter 3 of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ 23 pages, fol., Bound in lev.mor. case, by Wood. Stetson, A., April 23, ’20. (48) $500.00.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXVI, 1920, p. 1041)

John B. Stetson, Jr.

bookplate

Charles Cannon [Dan Rider]

purchased for £100

Valuable Books, Autograph Letters and Illuminated and Other Manuscripts, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, 27 July 1911, lot 197

[Subtitle: “A Collection of Autograph Manuscripts, Printed Books, Newspaper Cuttings, &c., By and Relating to Oscar Wilde, the Property of a Gentleman“ – “Lots 195 to 200, and 204 to 212, 214 and 219 uniformly bound in green morocco extra, gilt backs, line sides.“]

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, chap. III, MS. on 23 pp., folio, the original manuscript used by the printers.
An amusing chapter, in which Lord Henry Wotton gives an exposition, with many epigrams, of his philosophy of life.“

[sold for £100 to [Charles] Cannon [Dan Rider], see handwritten note in catalogue]

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, chapter iii., MS. on 23 pages, folio, the original manuscript used by the printers (197) Cannon, £100“
{Book-Prices Current, vol. XXV, 1911, p. 630)

$500
(The Sun, July 28, 1911)

Vyvyan Holland

“Forgive me for having … [?] you. Poor Vyvyan Holland has come a fearful smash [?]. He has been repudiated by his broker & I have had to send him off to Spain, which has made a sudden & unpleasant strain on my resources. The sale at Sothebys which I made early on his behalf was not enough, & he has banked his share of his father’s estate long ago“
(letter from Robert Ross to Walter Ledger, 11 Oct. 1911, see Robert Ross Memorial Collection, MS Ross 4)

?Christopher Millard / Stuart Mason

Robert Ross

5. Autograph Manuscript

Chapter 4 (i.e. Chapter 5, 1891)

10 pages

[1890-1]

The Morgan Library & Museum
New York, NY

MA 3149

no digital copy

Gift of Warren R. Howell, 1972

“Marked in pencil on p. 1 and 9 with names of typesetters.
The manuscript is headed ‘Chapter Four’ and ‘(page 32: insert [Lippincott’s edition])’ in Wilde’s hand, but was published as chapter five of the novel.
With autograph foliation and revisions.
Written on the rectos of ten sheets of lined paper.“

[This manuscript covers only pages 88 – 95 of the 1891 edition by Ward, Lock & Co.. Pages 95-96 see no. 6. Pages 96-106, the end of the chapter, are missing.]

Facsimile of first page, see Mason, Bibliography p. 354 (https://bit.ly/31wMspl)

Warren R. Howell

C. A. Stonehill

Catalogue of Valuable Printed Books, Illuminated and Other Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Topographical Drawings of American Interest, Sotheby’s, London, 17-19 Feb. 1936, lot 328

“auto. manuscript of the first half of Chapter V (headed ’Chapter Four’ in the manuscript but actually Chapter V of the printed book), 10 ll. with the author’s alterations and corrections, boards.

The first page is reproduced in facsimile in Stuart Mason’s Bibliography, p. 354. The portion of the text included in the manuscript is from the beginning of Ch. V ‘Mother, mother, I am so happy!’ down to the words ‘’Come Sibyl,’ said her brother impatiently. He hated his mother’s affections’ (p. 95 of printed version, first edition).“

[sold to Stonehill for £18, see Sotheby’s price-list]

English Literature of the 19th  & 20th Centuries, Maggs Bros., no. 607, 1935, item 1315

[library stamp July 3,1935]

“Autograph manuscript of the First Half of Chapter V (headed ‘Chapter Four’ in the Manuscript, but actually Chapter V of the Printed Book) on 10 pages folio. Written on one side of the paper only, with the author’s corrections and alterations. Boards. Circa 1890 £100

The Manuscript begins at Chapter V: ‘Mother, mother, I am so happy’ (page 88, First Edition), and ends: ‘Come Sibyl, said her brother impatiently. He hated his mother’s affectations’ (page 95).“

English Literature of the 19th  & 20th Centuries, Maggs Bros., no. 599, 1934, item 1336

“Autograph manuscript of the First Half of Chapter V (headed ‘Chapter Four’ in the Manuscript, but actually Chapter V of the Printed Book) on 10 pages folio. Written on one side of the paper only, with the author’s corrections and alterations. Boards. Circa 1890 £100

The Manuscript begins at Chapter V: ‘Mother, mother, I am so happy’ (page 88, First Edition), and ends: ‘Come, Sibyl, said her brother impatiently. He hated his mother’s affectations’ (page 95).“

Maggs Bros.

purchased for £18

Catalogue of Valuable Sporting & Other Books, Important Manuscripts, Autograph Letters and Printed Books, Forming Part of the Library of the Comte de Suzannet, Sotheby’s, London, 27 March 1934, lot 254 

“Auto. manuscript of the first half of Chapter V (headed ‘Chapter Four’ in the manuscript but actually Chapter V of the printed book), 10 ll. with the author’s alterations and corrections, boards  –  folio

The first page is reproduced in facsimile in Stuart Mason’s Bibliography, p.354. The portion of the text included in the manuscript is from  the beginning of Chapter V ‘Mother, mother, I am so happy!’ down to the words ‘Come, Sibyl,’ said her brother impatiently. He hated his mother’s affections.’ (p. 95 of printed version, first edition).“

“Dorian Gray, ten leaves of autograph manuscript – £18.“
(TLS, 5 April 1934, p. 16)

Comte Alain de Suzannet

Maggs Bros.

purchased at Sotheby’s April 23, 1923 for £68

Valuable Books and Autograph Letters … A Collection of Autograph Manuscripts by Oscar Wilde, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, 23-24 April 1923, lot 536

[“All bound in boards, with paper labels on top covers, except where otherwise stated“]

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chap. IV, Auto. MS. on 10 pp. folio, the original manuscript used by the printers, n. d. [1890-1].

One of the chapters inserted when the story was issued in book form; the MSS. of three of the other chapters were sold at Wellington St. [Sotheby’s] in 1911; a reduced facsimile of the first page of this MS. is given by Mr. Stuart Mason, p. 354.“

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, Chap. iv, auto. MS. on 10 pp. folio, the original manuscript used by the printers, n. d. [1890-1], (536), April 23, Sotheby               Maggs, £68 

[One of the chapters inserted when the story was issued in book form; the MSS. of three of the other chapters were sold at Wellington St. in 1911. A reduced facsimile of the first page of this MS. is given by Mr Stuart Mason, p. 354.]“
(Book-Prices Current, vol. XXXVII, 1923, p. 843)

“Finally there was a collection of autograph manuscripts of Oscar Wilde, which brought a total of £479. His MS. of The Picture of Dorian Gray realized £68.“
(Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 25 April 1923, p. 6)

“A collection of twenty-four autograph manuscripts by Oscar Wilde, sold separately, realized £476.“
(The Scotsman, 25 April 1923, p. 10)

?Vyvyan Holland

?Christopher Millard / Stuart Mason

Facsimile of first page, see Mason, Bibliography p. 354 (https://bit.ly/31wMspl)

[this could be an indication that the manuscript was in Millard’s / Ross’s hands at the time]

?Robert Ross

6. Autograph Leaf 

Chapter 5

[1890-1]

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
University of California, Los Angeles, CA

*PR5819 P611 1890  cop. 3

no digital copy

presented as a gift, February 1957

“Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900.
The picture of Dorian Gray: a complete novel by Oscar Wilde.
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company; London: Ward, Lock and Co. [1890]
p. 1-100; 23 cm; In Lippincott’s monthly magazine, In original paper wrappers. Caption title. First American edition. Published simultaneously in Philadelphia and London. Published in book form, with additions, London, 1891. Cf. Clark, W. A.Wilde and Wildeiana. 1922-31. V.2, p.47-50; [Millard, C.S.] Bibliography of Oscar Wilde. London [1914] p.107-110, no. 82 Clark Library copy in gray slip case. Clark Library has two other copies: copy 2 in tan cloth case; copy 3 extracted from Lippincott’s monthly magazine; bookplate of Christopher Sclater Millard; bound in red cloth with author’s manuscript leaf from chapter V of this work tipped in front.; English; * PR5819 P611 1890.
Reel: 12, Item No. 8“

“Picture of Dorian Gray. Autograph leaf from chapter V. 1891
MS 1 leaf. Single autograph leaf with erasures and corrections from chapter V of the 1891 version. Leaf tipped in Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorain [sic] Gray, Philadelphia, 1890. 

[this leaf is numbered 11, in Wilde’s hand, beginning: “They went out into the flickering wind-blown sunlight, and strolled down the dreary Euston Road. …“  It is part of no. 5 (see above), beginning on page 95 and ending on page 96]

[Christopher Millard’s bookplate]

(not in Finzi)

“Single autograph leaf with erasures and corrections from Chapter V of the 1891 version, not 1890. Bound with the first edition of work issued separately by Lippincott’s (Philadelphia, 1890).“
(Small, Oscar Wilde Revalued, p. 145)

“Kapitel 5 der erweiterten Fassung weist im Manuskript nur die Überschrift ‘Chapter Four’ (!) auf.“
(Edener, p. xxx)

William S. Pitcher

“The page … was formerly in the possession of William S. Pitcher of Marin County, California. Both the manuscript and the copy of the novel were presented as a gift to the Clark Memorial Library in February 1957.“
(Lawler, An Enquiry, p. 149)

English Literature from London, Art and other Books, Sold by order of Francis P. Garvan, and Other Collections, Anderson Galleries, New York, May 13-14, 1919, lot 835

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, the First Edition as it appeared in the Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine for July, 1890. 8vo, buckram. Philadelphia, 1890.

Inserted is a folio leaf of the original manuscript of the additional matter, added in the edition of 1891.“

“‘Picture of Dorian Gray,’ Phila., 1890. 8vo. / Cl. (with a folio leaf of original manuscript of the additions to the 1891 edition in book form). A., May 13, ’19. (835) $42.50.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXV, 1919, p. 812)

Francis P. Garvan

Christopher Millard / Stuart Mason

bookplate

7. Proof Sheets of pp. 31-34 (Lippincott’s)

beginning of Chapter IV (1890) / Chapter 6 (1891)

2 leaves / 4 pages

[1890-1]

unknown

[pp. 32-33 see https://bit.ly/3adA8cs]

Fine Literary Manuscripts, Bonhams, New York, March 9, 2017, lot 26

“Two leaves, pp 31-34, from the first appearance of The Picture of Dorian Gray in Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine for July, 1890, with Wilde’s autograph revisions toward the book-version published in April 1891, leaves mildly smudged and thumbed. Housed in olive green levant morocco, gilt, silk doublures and endleaves, padded out with blanks, by Wood, for John B. Stetson,.“ 

“Provenance: John B. Stetson,, Jr. (bookplate); Anderson Galleries, April 23, 1920 to John C. Tomlinson; Anderson Galleries, January 17-18, 1928; Dr. Noel L. Cortes (b.1907 [d.1975], bookplate and printed description).“ 

“APPARENTLY THE ONLY SURVIVING PORTION OF THIS IMPORTANT STATE OF REVISION. Four pages excised from Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine extensively corrected, with Wilde’s autograph revisions and additions in the margins. Wilde’s changes closely approximate the text as published by Ward Lock, but still contain a few marked differences, indicating another proof or subsequent copy, now lost. The changes in these pages include several characteristic passages here first introduced …“

estimated price $40,000 – 60,000

sold for $185,000 / £141,482 (see catalogue)

[chapter IV (Lippincott’s) changed to chapter 6 (1891, p. 107), with additions, deletions, corrections in Wilde’s hand, see facsimile of two pages, sale catalogue, p. 28]

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums

David Karpeles

David Karpeles gave this ms. to Bonhams for auction (personal communication, 7 Aug. 2020)

Noel L. Cortes

bookplate and printed description

1948

“… four pages of corrected proof sheets sold in 1948 …“
(see Fine Books and Manuscripts, Sotheby’s, New York, Dec. 4, 1996 [no. 9])

A Distinguished Library … Part II, City Book Auction, New York, sale no. 262, Jan. 29, 1944, lot 195

“Corrected proof sheets of pages 31-4, [London, 1890], 4 pages, 8vo, levant. Apparently corrected proofs of the Lippincott Magazine printing prepared for the book publication. Stetson collection. n (195) $40.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. 50, 1944, p. 560)

Selections from the Libraries of Heyward G. Hunter, Doswell, Va, The late William R. Powell, New York City, and Others, American Art Association, Anderson Galleries, New York, Jan. 23, 1931, lot 223

“Proof Sheets of pp. 31-4 of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, from Lippincott’s Magazine, July, 1890.

With ms. corrections by Wilde. 8vo, green crushed levant morocco, back and sides tooled with gilt fillets, facsimile of Wilde’s signature in gilt on front cover, inside fillets, lined with white watered silk, gilt edges, by Wood.

Proof-sheets profusely corrected by Wilde, with added ms. material in the margins. With the J. B. Stetson, Jr. bookplate.“

[text from Rare Book Hub]

The Library of the late John C. Tomlinson, Anderson Galleries, New York, January 17-18, 1928, lot 556

“Proof Sheets of pp. 31-34, as the work appeared in ‘Lippincott’s Magazine.’

Mounted with linen guards and bound in olive levant morocco, gilt panels on backs and sides, gilt edges, doublures and fly-leaves of pale green moiré silk, by Wood. Facsimile of Wilde’s signature on front cover.

With manuscript corrections by Oscar Wilde. Pages 32-33 are very profusely corrected, with Wilde’s manuscript emendations and on the margins. With the Stetson bookplate.“

“Proof sheets for pp. 31-34 of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ as published in ‘Lippincott’s Magazine.’
Mounted with linen guards and bnd. lev. mor., g.e., by Wood (Wilde’s MS. corrections on pp. 32-33, Stetson copy). NN (556)  $160.00“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXXIV, 1928, p. 649)

John C. Tomlinson

The Oscar Wilde Collection of John B. Stetson, Jr.,  Anderson Galleries, New York, April 23, 1920, lot 35

“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Proof Sheets of pp. 31-34, as the work appeared in ’Lippincott’s Magazine.’

Mounted with linen guards and bound in full olive levant morocco, gilt fillet panels on back and sides, gilt edges , doublures and flys of pale green moire silk, by Wood.

With manuscript corrections by Oscar Wilde. Pages 32-33 are very profusely corrected, with Wilde’s emendations and additions on the margins.“

“Proof-sheets of pages 31-34, as the work appeared in ‘Lippincott’s Magazine.’ Lev. mor., tooled, g.e. by Wood (with corrections by Wilde), Stetson, A., April 23, ’20. (35) $125.00.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXVI, 1920, p. 943)

sold for $125 / £25
(Book-Auction Records, vol. 17, 1920, p. 514)

John B. Stetson, Jr.

[?Wilde Collection, March 1914]

A Catalogue of Rare and Valuable Works, Bernard Quaritch, no. 316, London, July 1912, item 106

“The Picture of Dorian Gray. 4 pp. of text, with numerous corrections and additions in the writing of the author. 

This portion of the text forms the end of chapter IV and the beginning of chapter VI as they present exist in the novel, and were probably part of the original as published in Lippincott’s Magazine, June, 1890, corrected for the English edition, Chapter V being inserted later from manuscript. Bound in green morocco extra.  [1890-91] [£] 35 0 0“ 

[sold with Wilde collection, March 1914, to ?Rosenbach]

Bernard Quaritch

purchased for £20 10

Valuable Books, Autograph Letters and Illuminated and Other Manuscripts, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, 27 July 1911, lot 212

[Subtitle: “A Collection of Autograph Manuscripts, Printed Books, Newspaper Cuttings, &c., By and Relating to Oscar Wilde, the Property of a Gentleman“ – “Lots 195 to 200, and 204 to 212, 214 and 219 uniformly bound in green morocco extra, gilt backs, line sides.“]

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, 4 pages of text, with numerous corrections and additions in the author’s handwriting.
These pages consist of the end of the present Chap. IV of the novel, and the beginning of Chap. VI, and are probably part of the original version published in Lippincott’s Magazine, June 1890, corrected for the English issue, and bearing the printer’s marks. Chap. V was subsequently inserted from a manuscript.“

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, 4 pages of text, with numerous corrections and additions in the author’s handwriting (212) Quaritch, £20 10.“
{Book-Prices Current, vol. XXV, 1911, p. 631)

Vyvyan Holland

“Forgive me for having … [?] you. Poor Vyvyan Holland has come a fearful smash [?]. He has been repudiated by his broker & I have had to send him off to Spain, which has made a sudden & unpleasant strain on my resources. The sale at Sothebys which I made early on his behalf was not enough, & he has banked his share of his father’s estate long ago“
(letter from Robert Ross to Walter Ledger, 11 Oct. 1911, see Robert Ross Memorial Collection, MS Ross 4)

?Christopher Millard / Stuart Mason

Facsimile of first page, see Mason, Bibliography p. 354 (https://bit.ly/31wMspl)

[this could be an indication that the manuscript was in Millard’s / Ross’s hands at the time]

Robert Ross

8. Autograph Manuscript

Chapter 14 (i.e. 15)

17 pages 

[1890-1]

Berg Collection
New York Public Library, New York, NY 

call no.:
Berg Coll MSS Wilde +

no digital copy

acquired as part of the library of W. T. H. Howe

“Chapter 14 [i. e. 15] . Holograph n.d. (17 p) 

Library label of John B. Stetson, Jr.; H.“

[Chapter 15, 1891 version]

[differences exist between the autograph manuscript and the printed version. One can assume that the printed version was made from a corrected autograph manuscript or typescript]

“The manuscript is of lined, unruled paper with a watermark, ‘Towgood’s Superfine,’ on pp. 6-9 and a seated Britannia with crown emblem above with the whole in a oval frame on pp. 1-5. Bookplates reveal that the manuscript had been in the collections of W. T. H. Hour [i.e. Howe] and John B. Stetson, Jr.“
(Lawler, An Enquiry, p. 150)

“Kapitel 15 war ‘originally numbered first Chapter Thirteen;’ nachträglich änderte Wilde diese Zahl selbst ab in ’Fourteen’. In Masons Bibliography ist dieses Kapitel nur als ‘chap. xiv.’ aufgeführt.“
(Edener, p. xxx)

“Kapitel 15 wurde vor Kapitel 5 abgefasst. Wildes eigenhändige Abänderung der vorläufigen Kapitelzahl 13 auf 14 ist als Folge der nachträglichen Einfügung von ’Chapter Four’ zu betrachten.“
(ibid., p. xxxi)

W. T. H. Howe

bookplate

Books – Manuscripts – Drawings of Superlative Importance Acquired by or for a Noted Philadelphia Collector, American Art Association, New York, April 16-18, 1923, lot 977

i.e. “Mr Hughes“
(The Bookman’s Journal and Print Collector, vol. VIII, June 1923, p. 99)

“Original Autograph Manuscript of Chapter XIV of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ Manuscript of about Thirty-One Hundred Words, written in ink on 19 folio leaves. Each leaf mounted on guard and bound up with blank leaves in folio, full olive-green levant morocco, gilt fillet borders on sides and in back panels, facsimile signature of Oscar Wilde in gilt on front cover, doublures and fly-leaves of light green moire silk, gilt edges, by wood.

The Original Autograph As Used by the Printers.

The first of the six additional chapters which were added to ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ when it was published in book-form.

From the John B. Stetson,, Jr., collection, with his bookplate.“

[not in American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXIX,, 1923 pp. 915-6]

Colonel H. D. Hughes

“For $5700, in September [1920], he [Rosenbach] turned over to Colonel Hughes the richest lot of Wilde manuscripts ever sold, the originals of The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and An Ideal Husband, which he had bought for stock.“
(Wolf and Fleming, p. 135)

“Many of these items [of the Stetson sale] – fifty-one of Rosenbach’s purchases at the auction, in fact – were destined for Colonel H. D. Hughes, as is clear from the extensive listing in Rosenbach’s sales records. … Hughes, a collector for Pennsylvania, curiously paid off his sizable balance primarily through daily installments of $100.00.“
(Mitchell and Haas, https://bit.ly/3xpXd8k)

?A. S. W. Rosenbach

“At the sale of the Stetson collection of Oscar Wilde at the end of April, 1920, Dr. Rosenbach swept the board almost clean, taking virtually every item of real importance. He had been a Wilde enthusiast since his college days, when it was avant-garde to be mauve. His enthusiasm had been shared by Colonel H. D. Hughes of Philadelphia, who spent over $10,000 at the sale, wisely entrusting his bids to the Doctor.“
(Wolf and Fleming, p. 135)

The Oscar Wilde Collection of John B. Stetson, Jr., Anderson Galleries, New York, April 23, 1920, lot 49

“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Original manuscript of Chapter Fourteen of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ written on 17 pp. folio, and bound in full green levant morocco, gilt fillet back and sides, gilt edges, doublures and flys of white moire silk, with facsimile of Oscar Wilde’s signature on front cover, by Wood.

After the publication of ‘Dorian Gray’ in ‘Lippincott’s Magazine’ in July, 1890, George Lock, of Ward, Lock and Co., wrote to Wilde suggesting the advisability of both Dorian and Lord Henry being made to live longer, and so new chapters were added to the ‘thirteen’ which were originally published.“

“MS. of Chapter 14 of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ 17 pages, fol. Bound in lev. mor. case. Stetson, A., April 23, ’20. (49) $360.00“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXVI, 1920, p. 1040)

John B. Stetson, Jr.

bookplate

Charles Cannon [Dan Rider]

purchased for £50

Valuable Books, Autograph Letters and Illuminated and Other Manuscripts, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, 27 July 1911, lot 198

[Subtitle: “A Collection of Autograph Manuscripts, Printed Books, Newspaper Cuttings, &c., By and Relating to Oscar Wilde, the Property of a Gentleman“ – “Lots 195 to 200, and 204 to 212, 214 and 219 uniformly bound in green morocco extra, gilt backs, line sides.“]

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, chap. XIV, MS. on 15 pp., folio, the original manuscript used by the printers.
Contains more epigrams, including the description of the lady whose hair, on the death of her husband, turned gold with grief.“

sold for £50 to [Charles] Cannon [Dan Rider] (see handwritten note in catalogue)

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, chapter xiv., MS. on 15 pages, folio, the original manuscript used by the printers (198) Cannon, £50“
{Book-Prices Current, vol. XXV, 1911, p. 630)

Vyvyan Holland

“Forgive me for having … [?] you. Poor Vyvyan Holland has come a fearful smash [?]. He has been repudiated by his broker & I have had to send him off to Spain, which has made a sudden & unpleasant strain on my resources. The sale at Sothebys which I made early on his behalf was not enough, & he has banked his share of his father’s estate long ago“
(letter from Robert Ross to Walter Ledger, 11 Oct. 1911, see Robert Ross Memorial Collection, MS Ross 4)

?Christopher Millard / Stuart Mason

Robert Ross

9. Autograph Manuscript

Chapter 15 (i.e. 16)

19 pages

[1890-1]

unknown

“Da Kapitel 16 im Ms. offenbar als Kapitel 15 bezeichnet ist, muß es ebenfalls vor Kapitel 3 entstanden sein. Die (bei Kapitel 15 nachgewiesene) Unvollständigkeit der diesbezüglichen Angaben in der Bibliography läßt es als möglich erscheinen, daß es unmittelbar nach Kapitel 15 entstanden ist. Vom Inhalt her erscheint dies sogar wahrscheinlich, da das Ende von Kapitel 15 auch im Ms. die unmittelbare Hinführung zum Beginn des Kapitels 16 enthält.“
(Edener, p. xxxi)

[Private collector, ?from England]

Oscar Wilde, Sotheby’s, London, 29 Oct. 2004, lot 42

“Autograph manuscript of a chapter (here numbered Chapter 15, and eventually Chapter 16) of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ drafted by Wilde in black ink with extensive revisions and deletions, the first page bearing the chapter heading and opening paragraph, 19 pages, foolscap, on lined paper, rectos only, mounted on guards in a volume of blank pages of wove paper, green morocco gilt by Henry T. Wood, London, with reproduction of Wilde’s signature in gilt on front cover …

the original working manuscript of a chapter of wilde’s most celebrated prose narrative.

…

A few pencil annotations in another hand, and the (ink?) staining to the first page suggest that this manuscript may have been used by the printer.

…

no other autograph manuscripts relating to this story have appeared at auction since the stetson sale in 1920. A.J.A.Symons’s copy of the Stetson sale catalogue is included in the lot.

provenance: John B. Stetson, (loose bookplate; sale at Anderson Galleries, 23 April 1920, lot 50); Jerome Kern; thence by descent to Betty Kern Miller“

[facsimile of pages 8 and 10 of chapter 16 (p. 280 and p. 281, 1891 edition), beginning with “Adrian Singleton rose up wearily, and followed Dorian to the bar.“ (p 8)  and “… his parched mouth with a handkerchief. Dorian walked to the door …“ (p.10), see sale catalogue, p. 62 and p. 64]

“The manuscript of one of the chapters added to The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890-1 to turn the version in Lippincott’s Magazine (which itself fetched £5000) into a book was sold for £60,000 to a private collector …“
(The Book Collector, vol. 54, no. 1, Spring 2005, p. 85)

sold for £72.000 (€103,558) [incl. buyer’s premium]
(see Irish Independent, 30 Oct. 2004, p. 9)

[$132,300 see The New York Times, Oct. 30, 2004, section B, p. 10]

John Simpson

“Autograph manuscript chapter of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, 19 pages, 1890. Original autograph manuscript of Chapter 15 [i.e.16] of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. One of six chapters added for the first book edition). 13 by 8 inches, in morocco gilt by Wood. WITH COPIOUS ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS THROUGHOUT BY WILDE. Opening paragraph stained in ink and lower inner corner remargined. Provenance: Jerome Kem, purchased in 1920, and by descent to Betty Kem Miller. No manuscript material for The Picture of Dorian Gray has appeared since the Stetson Sale in 1920. 

The novel first appeared in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott’s Magazine, and was scheduled for book publication the following year. In order to make the published book longer, and thus newly interesting to a public that might already have read it in magazine form, Wilde decided to add six additional chapters (nos. 3, 5, 15,16, 17, and 18).“
{Gekoski, The John Simpson Collection, p. 6, item 4)

[with facsimile of autograph page 14, starting with: “Dorian’s arms fell to his side.“ – ending with “‘My god! My God!’ he cried, ’and I would have killed’…’“   (see printed version, 1891 edition, pp. 284-5)]

?Rick Gekoski

?J. O. Edwards

Fine Books and Manuscripts, Sotheby’s, New York, Dec. 4, 1996, lot 203

“Property from the Estate of Betty Kern Miller. 

Autograph manuscript of Chapter 15 [i.e., 16] of the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, being one of six chapters added by Wilde for the first book edition (London, 1891; Mason 328), after July 7, 1890, 19 leaves Iedger-ruled foolscap (13 x 8 in., 330 x 203 mm), written in black-grey ink on rectos only with numerous additions and deletions; the first leaf bearing the chapter heading and opening paragraph heavily stained in ink (contemporary), lower inner corner remargined, small perforations from brass clasp in upper lefthand corner of each leaf. Mounted on guards and bound by Wood in olive green crushed morocco gilt, facsimile of Wilde’s signature on upper cover, spine lettered gilt, white moire doublures and guards, edges gilt. Spine and upper cover slightly sunned. 

The Stetson-Kern manuscript of a chapter entirely in Wilde’s hand from his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the first to appear at auction in 75 years. No autograph material relative to the textual genesis of the novel, apart from four pages of corrected proof sheets sold in 1948 [see no. 7], have been available at auction since the sale of John B. Stetson’s celebrated collection of Wilde manuscripts in 1920 (Stetson owned the original typescript version in thirteen chapters and the holograph manuscripts of the present lot and chapters 3 and 14). 

Evidently Wilde began fortifying the novel from the end, later adding either chapter 3 or 5 as an afterthought. Thus Wilde has numbered the present lot with the chapter heading ’15,’ which appears in the final book version as chapter 16. The chapter describes the putative revenge of James Vane, brother of Sibyl Vane, whom Dorian had spurned some eighteen years earlier. 

The novel first appeared in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott’s Magazine and was scheduled for book publication the following year. Wilde’s principal concern lay less with the public controversy surrounding the novel than with its long term salability, as the book issue would have to compete with the Lippincott issue that sold for a mere shilling. Wilde devised to enhance the ‘value’ of the book issue by fleshing out the story with six additional chapters (3, 5, 15,16,17, and 18). In response, Wilde’s publisher George Lock suggested lengthening Dorian Gray’s life, and adding a conventional Victorian moral summary at the end. Wilde did augment the novel by adding a few years on Gray’s existence, but stopped short of a moral disquisition on the complexion of evil. As he stated in the preface, ’There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.’ 

Provenance: John B. Stetson, Jr. (bookplate and sale, Anderson Galleries, 23 April 1920, lot 50) – Jerome Kern – by descent to Betty Kern Miller.    $10,000-$15,000.“

[facsimile of autograph page 14, starting with: “Dorian’s arms fell to his side.“ – ending with “‘My god! My God!’ he cried, ’and I would have killed’…’“   (see 1891 edition, pp. 284-5)], see sale catalogue, facing lot 203 ]

“According to Whiteman [Bruce Whiteman, head of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library], the [Clark] library waged a “civilized and understated war“ in 1996 for the original manuscript of the ‘Dorian Gray’ chapter but lost out to an unidentified businessman from England. The Clark library was prepared to pay $30,000; the businessman paid $70,000, Whiteman said.“
(Milton, “Oscar Wilde collection“, https://bit.ly/3tLk3oj)

Betty Kern Miller

“by descent to Betty Kern Miller“ (see above)

Jerome Kern

Books – Manuscripts – Drawings of Superlative Importance Acquired by or for a Noted Philadelphia Collector, American Art Association, New York, April 16-18, 1923, lot 978

i.e. “Mr Hughes“
(The Bookman’s Journal and Print Collector, vol. VIII, June 1923, p. 99)

“Original Autograph Manuscript of Chapter XV of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’ Manuscript of about Thirty-One Hundred Words, written in ink  on 19 folio leaves. Each leaf mounted on guard and bound up with blank leaves in folio, full olive-green levant morocco, gilt fillet borders on sides and in back panels, facsimile signature of Oscar Wilde in gilt on front covers [sic], doublures and fly-leaves of light green moire silk, gilt edges, by wood.

The Original Autograph As Used by the Printers. One of the additional chapters written by Wilde for the publication of the work in book-form.

From the John B. Stetson,, Jr., collection.“

“Some original manuscripts were in the sale, many of them being from the Wilde collection of J. B. Stetson, Jr. … the original MS. of Chapter XV of The Picture of Dorian Gray, $325 (Stetson sale, $400).“
(The Bookman’s Journal and Print Collector, vol. VIII, June 1923, p. 100)

Colonel H. D. Hughes

“For $5700, in September [1920], he [Rosenbach] turned over to Colonel Hughes the richest lot of Wilde manuscripts ever sold, the originals of The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and An Ideal Husband, which he had bought for stock.“
(Wolf and Fleming, p. 135)

“Many of these items [of the Stetson sale] – fifty-one of Rosenbach’s purchases at the auction, in fact – were destined for Colonel H. D. Hughes, as is clear from the extensive listing in Rosenbach’s sales records. … Hughes, a collector for Pennsylvania, curiously paid off his sizable balance primarily through daily installments of $100.00.“
(Mitchell and Haas: https://bit.ly/3xpXd8k)

A. S. W. Rosenbach

purchased for $400
(see The New York Times, 24 April 1920, p. 32)

“At the sale of the Stetson collection of Oscar Wilde at the end of April, 1920, Dr. Rosenbach swept the board almost clean, taking virtually every item of real importance. He had been a Wilde enthusiast since his college days, when it was avant-garde to be mauve. His enthusiasm had been shared by Colonel H. D. Hughes of Philadelphia, who spent over $10,000 at the sale, wisely entrusting his bids to the Doctor.“
(Wolf and Fleming, p. 135)

The Oscar Wilde Collection of John B. Stetson, Jr., Anderson Galleries, New York, April 23, 1920, lot 50

“THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. Original manuscript of Chapter Fifteen of ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ written on 19 pp. folio, and bound in full green levant morocco, gilt fillet back and sides, gilt edges, doublures and flys of white moire silk, with facsimile of Oscar Wilde’s signature on front cover, by Wood.

This, and the preceding item [Chapter Fourteen] form two of the additional chapters which were written by Wilde to extend the life of Dorian and Lord Henry, and at the same time differentiate between the periodical publication and the book issue. The manuscripts  of these two chapters are profusely corrected.“

“MS. of Chapter 15 of The Picture of Dorian Gray. 19 pages, fol. Bound in lev. mor., g.e., by Wood, Stetson, A., April 23. ’20 (50) $400.00.“
(American Book-Prices Current, vol. XXVI, 1920, p. 1040)

John B. Stetson,, Jr.

loose bookplate

A Catalogue of Rare and Valuable Works, Bernard Quaritch, no. 316, London, July 1912, item 107

“Original MS. of Chapter XVI of ‘Dorian Gray.’ 18 pp. folio. This chapter, headed ‘Fifteen’ in the MS., is one of the numerous additions made by the author when revising the story for the first English edition. The subject of the chapter is the visit of Dorian Gray to an East End opium den. Green morocco extra. 1890-91. [£] 75 0 0“

Bernard Quaritch

purchased for £40

Valuable Books, Autograph Letters and Illuminated and Other Manuscripts, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, 27 July 1911, lot 199

[Subtitle: “A Collection of Autograph Manuscripts, Printed Books, Newspaper Cuttings, &c., By and Relating to Oscar Wilde, the Property of a Gentleman“ – “Lots 195 to 200, and 204 to 212, 214 and 219 uniformly bound in green morocco extra, gilt backs, line sides.“]

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, chap. XV, MS. on 18 pp., the present chapter XVI, the original manuscript used by the printers.

The account of Dorian Gray’s visit to a opium den in the East-end.“

“The Picture of Dorian Gray, chapter xv., MS. on 23 pages, folio, the original manuscript used by the printers (199) Cannon [i.e. Quaritch, see handwritten note in catalogue], £40“
{Book-Prices Current, vol. XXV, 1911, p. 630)

fetched $250
(The Sun, July 28, 1911)

Vyvyan Holland

“Forgive me for having … [?] you. Poor Vyvyan Holland has come a fearful smash [?]. He has been repudiated by his broker & I have had to send him off to Spain, which has made a sudden & unpleasant strain on my resources. The sale at Sothebys which I made early on his behalf was not enough, & he has banked his share of his father’s estate long ago“
(letter from Robert Ross to Walter Ledger, 11 Oct. 1911, see Robert Ross Memorial Collection, MS Ross 4)

?Christopher Millard / Stuart Mason

Robert Ross

10. Autograph Manuscript

Chapter 17

[1890-1]

unknown

“No records in sale or library catalogues suggest that the manuscripts of Chapters XVII and XVIII have ever been in circulation.“
(Bristow, Complete Works, vol. III, p. lxvii)

11. Autograph Manuscript

Chapter 18 

[1890-1]

unknown

“No records in sale or library catalogues suggest that the manuscripts of Chapters XVII and XVIII have ever been in circulation.“
(Bristow, Complete Works, vol. III, p. lxvii)