4to. x; 116pp, iv. 1st edition. One of only 1,000 copies printed in May of 1888. Original Japanese vellum boards, spine lettered in black, front cover lettered in red with design in black by Jacomb Hood, edges untrimmed. Title page printed in red and black, head- and tailpieces and decorations by Jacomb Hood. Complete with three plates by Walter Crane. Boards somewhat marked and soiled. The spine has been expertly restored, where previously it had begun to chip, so as to preserve its original state. Additionally, it is a little browned. The inner hinge is minorly exposed and there is a very small crack where the rear board meets the headcap. It should be noted that neither of these faults are visible externally and that the restoration has been done to such a degree of quality that it is unnoticeable. The binding remains firm. Besides a browned rear endpaper and some minor foxing to the preliminaries, internally the book is in exceptional condition. Near fine. The plates are complete and are impeccable. The text is bright and clean throughout. Wilde wrote that he intended these stories “partly for children, and partly for those who have kept the childlike faculties of wonder and joy, and who find in simplicity a subtle strangeness” (Hart-Davis, Letters of Oscar Wilde, 219). Includes, in addition to the title story, The Nightingale and the Rose, The Selfish Giant, The Devoted Friend, and The Remarkable Rocket. A wonderful example of a truly rare first edition in excellent condition.
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