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Wilde, Oscar. (1854–1900). Autograph Letter hoping to meet upon his return to New York.

Autograph letter from the Irish writer and leader of the Aesthetic Movement, and author of such works as The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Happy Prince. 

Three-page letter,  n.d. [26 Oct. 1882?] addressed to Stephen Massett, a well known San Francisco entertainer, the letter reading in part "I fear that a pressing engagement will prevent my seeing you...Hoping that I will have the pleasure of seeing you before I leave the States on my return to New York." Matted and framed with period photograph,  the first page and signed page presented on recto with a rear frame window showing the letter's second side. 10"h x 20"w (frame). Fair, some staining and toning to paper, folding creases, small tears in third page, not affecting text, not examined out of frame.


The letter is dated ‘Thursday’ in Wilde’s hand. There is a possibility that Wilde was referring to his engagement to lecture in Bridgeton, New Jersey, on Thursday 26 October. Wilde is known to have stayed overnight in Bridgeton, because he was interviewed on the train back to New York the following morning (Marland, R. (2022) The Complete Interviews, p. 488). Provenance: The Anderson Galleries; The Collection of the Late George P. Elder; sale 1098; 15 Oct. 1914; p. 67; lot 573.

Stephen Massett was an English-born poet-actor, song and dance artist, composer, essayist, lawyer, auctioneer, notary public, and "wandering minstrel in many lands." He was best known to San Francisco as "Jeems Pipes of Pipesville," his nom de plume as a writer of humorous prose. 

Wilde, Oscar. (1854–1900) Autograph Letter hoping to meet upon his return to New York

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Wilde, Oscar. (1854–1900). Autograph Letter hoping to meet upon his return to New York.

Autograph letter from the Irish writer and leader of the Aesthetic Movement, and author of such works as The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Happy Prince. 

Three-page letter,  n.d. [26 Oct. 1882?] addressed to Stephen Massett, a well known San Francisco entertainer, the letter reading in part "I fear that a pressing engagement will prevent my seeing you...Hoping that I will have the pleasure of seeing you before I leave the States on my return to New York." Matted and framed with period photograph,  the first page and signed page presented on recto with a rear frame window showing the letter's second side. 10"h x 20"w (frame). Fair, some staining and toning to paper, folding creases, small tears in third page, not affecting text, not examined out of frame.


The letter is dated ‘Thursday’ in Wilde’s hand. There is a possibility that Wilde was referring to his engagement to lecture in Bridgeton, New Jersey, on Thursday 26 October. Wilde is known to have stayed overnight in Bridgeton, because he was interviewed on the train back to New York the following morning (Marland, R. (2022) The Complete Interviews, p. 488). Provenance: The Anderson Galleries; The Collection of the Late George P. Elder; sale 1098; 15 Oct. 1914; p. 67; lot 573.

Stephen Massett was an English-born poet-actor, song and dance artist, composer, essayist, lawyer, auctioneer, notary public, and "wandering minstrel in many lands." He was best known to San Francisco as "Jeems Pipes of Pipesville," his nom de plume as a writer of humorous prose.