Wilde, Oscar.

This is an exceptionally rare work by Oscar Wilde and the only known presentation copy.

Mason claims that twenty copies were printed for use in the theatre but he was only able to locate four, including the author's own copy with corrections, later used for the Methuen 1908 edition, now in the British Library. Other copies located by Mason belonged to Walter E. Ledger, Minna K. Gale who starred in the play in New York, and Bruce Stirling Ingram, editor of The Illustrated London News. This present copy was not known to him. Holland and Hart-Davis believe that less than twelve copies are known of  today and although the British Library states that these copies were probably printed in America at the time of the performance of the play there in 1891, they remain uncertain as to place and date of publication.

Wilde was in negotiation with the American actor-manager Lawrence Barrett and also James Morrison Steele Mackaye, American actor, dramatist, designer and friend of Henry James. In September 1882 Wilde wrote to the actress Mary Anderson,  "Mr Lawrence Barrett has made me a very large offer for the play, but I feel that it is for you to create the part and I have told him that the acceptance of the play rests at present with you." He added that Steel Mackaye estimated the cost of production at $10,000. Negotiations continued, Steele Mackaye was accepted as director, Booth's Theatre in New York was booked and an agreement was drawn up between Oscar Wilde and Mary Anderson stipulating that Wilde write a tragedy for performance and sole ownership by Mary Anderson. On 23 March 1883 Wilde wrote an exceptionally long letter to Mary Anderson letting her know the play had been sent to her and that he awaited her reply. In this letter he sets out his thoughts on the characters, the tempo of each Act, an overall synopsis of the play and its setting. He concludes "This letter has become a Titan: it should have been written in the mammoth age: but there is so much to say on a play: and all art must be capable of scientific analysis, it it is not merely prettiness." Unfortunately he received a telegram in Paris turning down the play, whereupon he tore "a tiny strip off the blue form, rolled it up into a pellet, and put it into his mouth." Mary Anderson wrote later that she felt, "The play in its present form, I fear, would no more please the public of today than would Venice Preserved or Lucretia Borgia." Lawrence Barrett subsequently took the play to Broadway under the title of Guido Ferranti where it opened on 21 January 1891.

Steele Mackay was one of the greatest stage innovators of the time, having completely remodelled the Fifth Avenue Theatre renaming it the Madison Square Theatre and installing a safety curtain, folding seats and a movable double stage. He opened the first American School of Acting and planned a brand new theatre on the corner of 33rd Street and Broadway to be inaugurated with The Duchess of Padua. He was also involved in the production of Vera.