WILDE, Oscar.

De Profundis.

New York and London: G. P. Putnam;s Sons , 1905.

We're sorry, this item has sold.

Out of Stock Item Number: RRB-140215

Custom Clamshell Box

Hand made by the Harcourt Bindery. ~90 days

+$500

Ask a Question

Authenticity Guaranteed

Secure Shipping

First edition, early printing of Oscar Wilde's De Profundis

First American edition, early printing of the letter Wilde sent to his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol. Octavo, original paper-covered cloth, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Wilde by J.E. Kelly. In very good condition.

De Profundis (Latin: "from the depths") is a letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol, to his lover "Bosie" (Lord Alfred Douglas). In its first half, Wilde recounts their previous relationship and extravagant lifestyle which eventually led to Wilde's conviction and imprisonment for gross indecency. He indicts both Lord Alfred's vanity and his own weakness in acceding to those wishes. In the second half, Wilde charts his spiritual development in prison and identification with Jesus Christ, whom he characterizes as a romantic, individualist artist. The letter begins "Dear Bosie" and ends "Your Affectionate Friend". Wilde entrusted the manuscript to the journalist Robert Ross (another former lover, loyal friend, and rival to "Bosie"). Ross published the letter in 1905, five years after Wilde's death, giving it the title "De Profundis" from Psalm 130.