The Ballad of Reading Gaol. London: Leonard Smithers, 1898. First Edition. Pp, 31, uncut, with preliminary leaves unopened. Publisher’s white linen-backed cinnamon cloth by Matthew Bell & Co. Covers dull with light shelf-wear, gilt title faded to spine; browning to fore-edges, contents pages in good condition. Housed in collector’s solander box.

One of Eight Hundred copies printed on handmade paper.

C.3.3. was Wilde’s cell number. He noted to the publisher that ‘it would be better to publish there without my name. I see that it is my name that terrifies.’

After the seventh edition (1899) the publishers added his full name in brackets after C.3.3. on the title page.

[Mason 371].