WILDE, OSCAR. SALOME, 1894, 1/100, WITH THE RARE SUPPRESSED 'ENTER HERODIAS' PLATE

4to, ONE OF 100 COPIES PRINTED FOR ENGLAND ON JAPANESE VELLUM, translated by Lord Alfred Douglas,  illustrated title-page, illustrated list of illustrations, 10 full-page illustrations and tailpiece by Aubrey Beardsley (engraved by Carl Hentschel), THIS COPY ALSO WITH THE ORIGINAL "ENTER HERODIAS" PLATE, and a version of the suppressed "Toilette of Salomé" plate, advertisements at the end, top edge gilt, full vellum gilt by Riviere and Son, gilt designs on upper and lower covers matching original designs, gilt turn-ins, original green silk covers and spine bound in at the end, linen folding box with black morocco label

Geoffrey D. Hobson, bookplate, sale at Christie's, 17 November 1978, lot 483

Mason 351

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THE LIMITED 1/100 ISSUE OF THE ENGLISH EDITION OF SALOMÉ WITH THE ORIGINAL SUPPRESSED "ENTER HERODIAS" PLATE (showing male genitalia). Before publication of this, the first illustrated edition of Salomé, two plates were completely suppressed: "John and Salomé"  (replaced by "The Black Cape") and the first rendering of "The Toilette of Salomé". Furthermore two plates were 'bowdlerised' at the publisher's request: the pictorial title-page and "Enter Herodias". This copy contains the original version of the latter, and also contains what appears to be Leonard Smithers' copy of the original version of "The Toilette of Salomé" plate (now on slightly thinner paper), numbered and initialled by him ("no.40 L.S"). This is probably from the limited edition of 75 copies of this plate Smithers is known to have produced after 1904. "I suppose you've heard all about the Salomé Row. I can tell you I had a warm time of it between Lane and Oscar and Co. For one week the number of telegraph and messenger boys who came to the door was simply scandalous. I really don't quite know how the matter really stands now... I have withdrawn three of the illustrations and supplied their places with three new ones (simply beautiful and quite irrelevant)." [letter by Beardsley to Robert Ross, Complete Letters of Oscar Wilde, p.574)]

Wilde loved Beardsley's illustrations but disliked the binding, preserved in the present copy beneath a later matching vellum binding by Riviere and son.