Frans Masereel's stunning interpretation of Wilde's masterpiece

The Ballad of Reading Gaol

Munich, 1923

Illustrated by Frans Masereel

Signed limited edition, number 18 of 250 copies

Tall octavo

Frans Masereel was a Flemish painter who is best known for his striking and highly recognisable woodcuts.  Wilde’s haunting poem was the perfect subject for Masereel’s stark imagery.

 The book is in its original binding of full brown calf, with a blind stamped geometric design to the front and back boards.  The extremities of the spine and the corners are very slightly worn but the book is otherwise in very good condition.  The book has five raised bands and the title in gold leaf.

The book is housed in a custom designed goatskin box of black calfskin with lozenge onlays of beige and black to the front and back, depicting Wilde’s prisoner identification ‘C33’, and handcuffed hands, taken from the frontispiece illustration. 

The title is hand tooled in gold gothic lettering to the spine.

BKWILD.012

£2,100.00

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