WILDE, Oscar. The Sphinx.

WILDE, Oscar. The Sphinx. Woodcut illustrations. 144 London: Privately Printed, 1901. First edition thus. Small quarto. pp. [iv], 32. Bound by Hatchards of Piccadilly in contemporary half brown morocco over pink linen boards. Spine divided into two panels by one gilt raised band, title in gilt direct in the first, gilt floral decoration in the second, year in gilt at heel; comb-marbled endpapers; brown silk marker. Decorative bookplate on front pastedown. Original printed wrappers bound in at end. Edition limited to 250 copies (No. 102). Top edge gilt. Mild wear to extremities. Usual mild foxing. A very good copy.  "Mason 621.
This ingenious work like some other of his poems, is marred by a preciosity which frequently spoiled even his best prose. In his own words, Wilde was ""a lord of language"", but only when he wrote in the vein of La Rochefoucauld." 1902 WILDE, Oscar.

L3 11D