Beschreibung:

DOUGLAS, Lord Alfred (1870-1945). A collection of 6 works by Douglas and two books from his library, comprising: 1. The City of the Soul . London: R. & R. Clark for Grant Richards, 1899. 8° (173 x 108mm). (Occasional light spotting or browning.) Original vellum-backed boards (spine spotted, corners bumped), morocco-backed slipcase. Provenance : William Thomas Stead (inscription on front free endpaper: 'W.T. Stead with the kind regards of the author. Alfred Bruce Douglas October. 1903.'). FIRST EDITION, later issue with the author's name on the title and spine, and 'Opinions of the Press' printed on p.[ii]. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY DOUGLAS TO STEAD (1849-1912), editor of the Pall Mall Gazette and other journals, and political activist, who was drowned on the Titanic. 2. The Duke of Berwick. A Nonsense Rhyme . London: Leonard Smithers, [1899]. Oblong 2° (215 x 280mm). Colour-printed title and 10 colour-printed plates after Toni Ludovici, text and plates printed on rectos only. (Occasional light marking.) Original cloth-backed colour-printed boards (some rubbing and marking, hinges split). Provenance : inscription on half-title: 'Regie [?Reginald Turner] from Bosie. Xmas. 1899. -- purchased from Bertram Rota, London, 29 December 1939, £1. 10,000 copies of this work have been issued of which this is N o. I. Alfred Douglas.' FIRST EDITION. INSCRIBED BY DOUGLAS AS 'BOSIE'. 3. The Duke of Berwick and Other Rhymes . London: Hazell, Watson & Viney for Martin Secker, 1925. 8° (190 x 118mm). (Occasional very light spotting or browning.) Original half cloth over marbled boards, morocco-backed slipcase. Provenance : presentation copy from the author to Alfred Rose (inscribed on front free endpaper: 'Alfred Rose from his friend Alfred Douglas. October 1925.'). FIRST EDITION THUS, INSCRIBED BY DOUGLAS TO HIS FRIEND ROSE. Rose was instrumental in persuading the Home Office that Douglas should be supplied with writing materials during the poet's incarceration in 1924 for libelling Churchill; whilst imprisoned, Douglas composed the sonnet sequence 'In Excelsis', which he dedicated to Rose, in gratitude for his assistance. However, Douglas later discovered that Rose had abused his trust and stolen manuscripts from him, which had been sold through the booksellers W. & G. Foyle. 4. The Autobiography . London: The Riverside Press for Martin Secker, 1929. 4° (213 x 167mm). Frontispiece and 8 plates. (Occasional light spotting or marking.) Original cloth, lettered in gilt on spine and upper board, dust-jacket (hinges cracked, jacket spotted and with small tears and chips), morocco-backed slipcase. FIRST EDITION. 5. Sonnets . London: The Westminster Press for Rich and Cowan, 1935. 8° (220 x 142mm). Frontispiece. (A few leaves lightly spotted or affected by offsetting.) Original cloth (spotted and a little dampstained), calf slipcase and chemise. Provenance : presentation copy from the author to Maurice Baring (1874-1945; bookplate and inscription on front free endpaper: 'Maurice Baring from Alfred Douglas. November 1936') -- purchased from Harold Mortlake, London, 31 May 1962, £4.4. FIRST EDITION, BARING'S COPY; and a French edition of the poems with forged signature by Oscar Wilde. DOUGLAS, Lord Alfred -- Dante Gabriel ROSSETTI (1828-1882). The Collected Works , edited by William M. Rossetti. London: Hazell, Watson, & Viney for Ellis and Elvey, 1890. 2 volumes, 8° (192 x 122mm). (Occasional light spotting and marking, vol. I with flyleaf torn out.) Contemporary green morocco gilt by Roger de Coverly, boards and spines decorated with designs after the author, top edges gilt (spines faded, extremities worn, upper board of volume I detached). Provenance : Andrew Iredale, Torquay (bookseller's tickets on upper pastedowns) -- Lord Alfred Douglas (ownership signature on front free endpaper of vol. I; further inscription on half-title: '2 vols. Given to me by Oscar Wilde at Babbacombe. 1892. inscription torn out. A D December 1905.') -- purcha