Lady Windermere's Fan. A Play About a Good Woman.
London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane, 1893. First edition. Hardcover. Oscar Wilde's first society comedy, written in 1892 and produced by George Alexander, the manager of St James's Theatre. The play, about a woman "with a past" attempting to reestablish herself in society, was Wilde's first dramatic success, and re-affirmed his place in fashionable circles. This period of acclaim lasted for only 3 years, following which Wilde suffered through his trial for homosexuality and subsequent imprisonment.
This volume belonged to Sibyl, Lady Colefax, the well known British society decorator, with her signature at the ffep, 'Sibyl Halsey'. Sibyl, Lady Colefax (1874 – 1950) was born Sibyl Halsey, and was the niece of Walter Bagehot. She settled in Kent, after the 1929 Crash becoming a professional decorator. She bought the decorating division of the antique dealers Stair and Andrew of Bruton Street, Mayfair, and discovered John Fowler when he was running the painted furniture department at Peter Jones. She set up Sibyl Colefax Ltd in partnership with Peggy Ward, the Countess Munster; the firm exists today as Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler.
8vo, 132pp, 14pp suite of advertisements titled 'List of Books in Belles Lettres' and dated 1893. Mauve cloth, with 3 stylized flame/floral designs at the front and rear boards. Uncut foredge. Boards a bit dusty. Beautifully restored with the original spine laid down, with some browning. OCLC: 3451995. Good overall. Item #22362
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