Louÿs, Pierre

Louÿs, Pierre. La Conque. [Paris:] 1891. Nos. 1, 2 and 4. 8vo (9 1/2 x 6 1/4 in.; 240 x 160 mm). Original purple-lettered yellow wrappers; minor rubbing and light soiling, repaired tear to 4th issue.

minor rubbing and light soiling, repaired tear to 4th issue
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Inscribed by Louÿs to Oscar Wilde at the beginning of their short, but intense friendship. On the inner front wrapper of the first issue, Louÿs has penned in his usual purple ink: "A. Mr. Oscar Wilde/ Hommage Respecteux / Pierre Louÿs."

Wilde's trip to Paris in final months of 1891 brought him into the orbit of not only Mallarmé and the Symbolists, but of more personal importance, André Gide and Pierre Louÿs. While the former had the more intense relationship with Wilde, Louÿs and Wilde certainly had mutual admiration for one another's work. Louÿs dedicated a poem in his collection Astarte to Wilde and Wilde dedicated his Salome to Louÿs, whose help he sought in getting its French publication. (One could surmise that the purple binding of that edition was at least in part a homage to Louÿs whose habit of writing in ornate, purple script was a fascination to Wilde).

Louÿs seemed flattered to be the straight guest at many of Wilde's more flamboyant gatherings ("They know how to envelop everything in poetry" he related to Gide), but when confronted with the price of Wilde's affairs on his past life, namely his abandoned wife and children in favor of Douglas, he broke with Wilde in no uncertain terms. Wilde, deeply hurt, responded, "Goodbye Pierre Louÿs. I had hoped for a friend; from now on I will have only lovers." (See Ellman, Oscar Wilde, pp. 352-4, 392-395)