Large tradecard for Ehrich Bros., a 19th century dry goods store in New York featuring a lithograph based on a Sarony photograph of the Irish playwright and leader of the Aesthetic Movement, taken at the start of his 1882 lecture tour of the United States and Canada by Napoleon Sarony, the pre-eminent New York photographer of his day and one of the city's favourite eccentrics.  During the portrait sitting, Wilde posed for at least 27 photographs, in various attire which he anticipated would be distributed to cities in advance of his arrival.  Lithograph in colors trade card, 11.5 h × 7 w in (29 × 18 cm).

Wilde, who was eager to make an international reputation, first came to America on a lecture tour arranged by the English impresario, Richard d'Oyly Carte (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame), arriving on the SS Arizona on January 3rd, 1882, this being the date of his famous quip to the NY Customs House officer that he had "nothing to declare except my genius." On a grueling schedule Wilde toured the United States and Canada, lecturing on aestheticism in a new town every few days and though the tour was originally planned to last four months, it was continued for over a year, giving approximately 141 lectures (the exact itinerary has never been agreed upon).  Though his press reception was hostile, Wilde's popularity among his audiences inspired the publication of advertisements like the present one, trading on his commercial success.