Forgeries from "Andre Gide" and Dorian Hope Series 1.
1920-1957
1920-1957
Physical Description: 2
boxes
Provenance
Clark Library purchase, 1957 from G.F. Sims catalog 35 (MS.1957.007). Purchased by Sims
from Hodges Figgis and Co. catalog 10 (issued in 1953).
Scope and Contents
Contains forgeries offered for sale to William Figgis of Dublin booksellers Hodges
Figgis in 1921, as well as correspondence related to the forgeries from 1921-1957.
Forged works include alleged correspondence from Wilde as well as draft manuscripts of
his literary and dramatic work. Letters include correspondence from the fake Andre Gide
as well as the real Andre Gide, various booksellers (Maggs, Davis and Orioli, Gabriel
Wells), Christopher Millard, and Vyvyan Holland. Some supplementary published material
from the 1950s regarding the collection is also included.
Arrangement
Materials are described in three separate subseries: Subseries 1.1. Letters from "Oscar
Wilde" ; Subseries 1.2. Manuscripts ; and Subseries 1.3. Correspondence regarding
collection. Materials are physically arranged in the order in which they are described
in Sims Catalog 35.
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm available: Wilde 21-2
Original Call Number
Originally cataloged as W6721M C697 1887 1900 Boxed.
Historical Note
This series contains forged works by Oscar Wilde and offered for sale by a person (or
persons) posing as Andre Gide and his agent Dorian Hope. Though these forgeries have
been attributed to Fabian Lloyd, Wilde's nephew by marriage, it is highly unlikely that
Lloyd was involved, as he is thought to have died at sea in 1920. The materials
collected here were purchased by William Figgis of Dublin booksellers Hodges Figgis and
Co. He sold 2 items to fellow booksellers Davis and Orioli who had doubts about their
authenticity and returned them to Figgis. This prompted Figgis to arrange a meeting with
"Andre Gide" in Paris, where he was met not by Gide but by his alleged agent Dorian
Hope. After meeting Hope, he set out to visit the real Andre Gide, who was deeply upset
and denied any knowledge of such Wilde manuscripts. Figgis later sought the help of
Wilde expert Christopher Millard, who at first believed the manuscripts were all
genuine, though he quickly changed his mind.
In 1953, Hodges Figgis offered the "Wilde"-"Gide" material for sale in their catalog
number 10 (lot 3497).
Letters from "Oscar Wilde" Subseries 1.1.
General Physical Description note: Many of these letters originally housed
together in one envelope from Hodges, Figgis. Envelope now in Box 1/Folder
12.
box Forgeries 1, Folder 2
"Oscar Wilde" to Andre Gide
189-? 16 November
General Physical Description note: 4 pages. Sims catalogue no. 1
box Forgeries 1, Folder 3
"Oscar Wilde" to "my dear Sir"
1895 April 11
General Physical Description note: 1 page. Sims catalogue no. 2
box Forgeries 1, Folder 4
"Oscar Wilde" to "my dear friend"
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 page. Sims catalogue no. 3.
box Forgeries 1, Folder 5
"Oscar Wilde" to "my dear friend"
undated
General Physical Description note: 2 pages. Sims catalogue no. 4
box Forgeries 1, Folder 7
"Oscar Wilde" to "my dear friend"
1894 January 28
General Physical Description note: 3 pages. Regarding a review in the
Pall Mall Gazette.Sims catalogue no. 6
box Forgeries 1, Folder 6
"Oscar Wilde" to "my dear Sir"
undated
General Physical Description note: 2 pages. Sims catalogue no. 5
box Forgeries 1, Folder 8
"Oscar Wilde" to "my dear friend"
1895 January 3
General Physical Description note: 3 pages. Sims catalogue no. 7
box Forgeries 1, Folder 9
"Oscar Wilde" to "dear friend"
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 page. Sims catalogue no. 8
box Forgeries 1, Folder 10
"Oscar Wilde" to "mon cher frere"
18--? May 3
General Physical Description note: 3 pages. Supposedly written from "Hotel
d'Alsace": "The doctor tells me I am better today..." Sims catalogue no.
9
box Forgeries 1, Folder 11
"Oscar Wilde" to Octave Mirbeau
18--? October 29
General Physical Description note: 4 pages. Sims catalogue no. 10
box Forgeries 1, Folder 13
2 visiting cards with inscriptions by "Wilde"
General Physical Description note: Inscriptions in pencil. Sims catalog no.
11
box Forgeries 1, Folder 14
Reproduction of Wilde photograph and negative with forged
inscription
1882
General Physical Description note: Sims catalogue no. 12
box Forgeries 1, Folder 16
"Oscar Wilde" inscription on a brochure for Robert B. Douglas's Life and
times of Madame du Barry (Leonard Smiths, 1896)
1896?
General Physical Description note: Sims catalog no. 15
Volume PR5819 .P613Fr 1895* c.2
Inscription to "L.J." in a copy of Le portrait de Dorian Gray (traduit de
l'anglais), (Paris, Albert Savine, 1895)
Manuscripts Subseries 1.2.
box Forgeries 1, Folder 15
Several drafts of poem "Passion digs a grave for love"
General Physical Description note: 6 pages, in purple ink. Sims catalog no.
13
box Forgeries 1, Folder 17
"Mr. Swinburne's poems and ballads (3rd series)"
General Physical Description note: 10 pages, in purple ink with numerous
corrections and pencilled heading.
box Forgeries 1, Folder 18
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
General Physical Description note: 66 leaves. Written in black ink and pencil
with corrections in purple. Housing from Hodges Figgis in Box 1/Folder 19. Sims
catalogue no. 17
box Forgeries 1, Folder 20
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
General Physical Description note: 42 leaves. In purple ink with corrections
and with an inscription to Octave Mirabeau on the head of the text. Sims catalog no.
18.
box Forgeries 1, Folder 21
The Importance of Being Earnest
General Physical Description note: 78 pages. Incomplete; written in black
ink. Sims catalog no. 19
box Forgeries 1, Folder 22
The Importance of Being Earnest, Act II
General Physical Description note: 67 pages. Written in purple ink. Sims
catalog no. 20
box Forgeries 1, Folder 23
First and last verses of The Sphinx
General Physical Description note: 2 sheets, in pencil. Sims catalog no.
21
box Forgeries 1, Folder 24
Fragments of 2 poems
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 page, in black ink.
Sims catalog no. 22
box Forgeries 1, Folder 25
The Nightingale and the Rose
General Physical Description note: 6 leaves. Sims catalogue no. 23
box Forgeries 1, Folder 26
The Sphinx Without a Secret
General Physical Description note: 20 pages, in purple ink. Sims catalog no.
24
box Forgeries 1, Folder 27
The Decay of Lying
General Physical Description note: 10 leaves. Written in black and purple
ink. Sims catalogue no. 25
box Forgeries 1, Folder 28-29
A Woman of No Importance
General Physical Description note: 168 leaves. Written in black ink with
pencil notes. Booksellers' original housings in Box 1/Folder 30. Sims catalogue no.
26
Letters regarding collection Subseries 1.3.
General Physical Description note: Housing from 1920s bookseller letters in Box
2/Folder 13.
box Forgeries 2, Folder 1
"Andre Gide" to William Figgis
1921-1922
1921-1922
General Physical Description note: 13 letters from "Gide" and carbon copies
of 2 letters from Figgis to "Gide." Sims Catalogue no. 27
box Forgeries 2, Folder 2
David Rice to William Figgis
1921
General Physical Description note: 2 letters. Sims catalog no. 28
box Forgeries 2, Folder 3
Maggs Bros. to William Figgis
1921
General Physical Description note: 2 letters and a telegram. Sims catalog no.
29
box Forgeries 1, Folder 4
Gabriel Wells to Davis and Orioli
1922
General Physical Description note: Sims catalog no. 30
box Forgeries 2, Folder 5
Davis and Orioli to William Figgis, with receipt for return
1922
General Physical Description note: Sims catalog no. 31
box Forgeries 2, Folder 6
C. Frederic Harrison (Brentano's Paris) to William Figgis
1921-1922
1921-1922
General Physical Description note: 14 letters. Sims catalogue no.
32
Volume PR5823 .G453o *
Andre Gide, Oscar Wilde : in memoriam (Paris: Mercure de France,
1910)
box Forgeries 2, Folder 7
Andre Gide to William Figgis
1922 January 9
General Physical Description note: with original envelope. Sims catalogue no.
34
box Forgeries 2, Folder 8
Andre Gide to C. Frederic Harrison
1922 January 5
General Physical Description note: MISSING AS OF 8/20/2014 Sims catalog no.
35
box Forgeries 2, Folder 10
"Wilde Mss.," typed essay by William Figgis
192-?
General Physical Description note: Sims catalog no. 37
box Forgeries 2, Folder 9
Christopher Millard to William Figgis
1922-1926
1922-1926
General Physical Description note: 15 letters. Sims catalogue no.
36
box Forgeries 2, Folder 11
Vyvyan Holland to William Figgis
1955
General Physical Description note: 3 letters. Sims catalogue no.
38
box Forgeries 2, Folder 12
Dudley Edwards to William Figgis
1954
box Forgeries 2, Folder 14
Dudley Edwards, "The Wilde goose chase," The Amateur Book Collector, Vol.
VII, no. 5 (1957)
1957
box Forgeries 2, Folder 15
"The 'Wonderful Forgeries,'" UCLA Librarian, volume 10, no. 25 (1957
September 6)
box Forgeries 2, Folder 16
Hodges Figgis and Co. Ltd., Catalog 10 (New Series)
1953
box Forgeries 1, Folder 1
Forgeries from "Pierre Louÿs" Series 2.
1920-1922
General
Originally cataloged as W6721M2 S171 [ca. 1921] Boxed
Custodial History
Documents collected in this series are photocopies of material held by Maggs Bros.
antiquarian booksellers in London. In 1921, they were approached by a figure posing as
Pierre Louys who offered them several manuscripts purported to be by Oscar Wilde. This
archive comprises photocopies of the forged documents as well as correspondence between
Maggs and the forgers.
box Forgeries 3, Folder 1
box Forgeries 3, Folder 2
Correspondence between Maggs Bros. and "Pierre Louys"
1921
box Forgeries 3, Folder 3
Forged correspondence, poems and other materials
1921?
Mrs. Chan-Toon and "Who Wrote 'For the Love of the King'?" Series 3.
1908-1926
1908-1926
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired from G.F. Sims, 1957 (MS.1957.008).
Scope and Contents
This series contains material collected by Christopher Millard in relation to the
forged Oscar Wilde play
For the love of the king, and the
libel trial Methuen and Co. v. Millard (1926). Millard's extensive dossier on the trial
and on Mrs. Chan-Toon, the forger of the play, contains correspondence, legal documents,
and news clippings as well as other materials.
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 1
Methuen & Co. Ltd. v. Millard
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 2
John Gilmorton, "A Literary Hoax?" The Outlook
1925 August 8
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 3
"Parrot in Court" and photo of Mrs. Chan-Toon, Daily Sketch
1926 January 6
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 4
Literary Intelligence typescript
1925 September 3
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 5
Correspondence file of incoming and outgoing letters between Millard and
various parties
1925 August 8
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 6
"Who wrote 'For the love of the king'?" circular with letter from
Millard
1925?
box Wildeiana 28, Folder 16
"Who Wrote 'For the Love of the King'?" circular, second edition
about 1925
General
From the T.P. Gerson collection (accession MS.1961.014).
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 7
Further list of documents in plaintiffs' possession
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 8
Field Roscoe to Cann Jackson & Cann
1926 October 13
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 9
CSM to LJ memo
1926 November 8
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 10
CSM to LJ memo
1926 August 11
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 11
Translation of Henry D. Davray, "Les apocryphes d'Oscar Wilde," Mercure de
France
1926 March 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 12
Clipping from Mercure de France
1926 February 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 13
Les apocryphes d'Oscar Wilde, Part II, Mercure de France
1926 March 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 14
Les apocryphes d'Oscar Wilde, part I
1926 October 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 15
2 pages of questions for A.J.A. Symons
undated
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 16
List of contacts and addresses
undated
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 17
The evening standard
1926 May 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 18
Methuen and Co. Ltd v. Millard pamphlet
1926 December 19
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 19
List of donations to Millard
1926?
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 20
Letter from Mabel Violet Wanliss to Christopher Millard
1926 November 11
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 21
Letter from W. Brown to Millard
1926 November 19
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 22
Letter from H.W. Fowler to Millard
1926 October 22
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 23
Note from LJ to CSM
1926 October 22
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 24
Methuen v. Millard, Plaintiffs' departmental memoranda
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 25
Methuen v. Millard, transcripts and other court documents
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 26
Letter from Curtis Brown Ltd. to CSM
1926 April 21
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 27
The evening standard
1926 March 19
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 28
Daily Herald
1926 March 13
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 29
Letter from Parker Garrett and Co. to Millard regarding unauthorized Wilde
materials
1911 November 7
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 30
Testimony from A.J.A. Symons
1926?
box M645Z W6286 Box 1, Folder 31
Draft of request for donations on behalf of Millard
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 1
Letters from Werner Laurie to Millard
1922-1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 2
Methuen v. Millard, Affadavit as to documents by defendant
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 3
Methuen v. Millard, Notice of application
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 4
Methuen v. Millard, Defence
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 5
Letter from Millard to C. Jackson
1926 May 6
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 6
Letter from Cann Jackson Cann? to Field Roscoe?
1926?
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 7
Millard formal statement on case
1926?
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 8
Postcard from OB to Millard
1926 April 29
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 9
Letter from A. Ross? to Millard
1920 April 28
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 10
Letter from The times to Millard
1925 September 6
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 11
Letter from Reginald Turner to Millard
192-? December 10
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 12
Letter from Daily herald to Millard
1926 May 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 13
Letter from Methuen to Millard
1913 November 28
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 14
Letter from Methuen to Millard
1908 July 7
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 15
Letter from Methuen to Millard
1913 December 1
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 16
Methuen v. Millard, Brief
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 17
Correspondence disclosed after plaintiff's affadavit of documents
1922-1923
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 18
Methuen v. Millard, trial documents and lists of witnesses
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 19
Methuen v. Millard, Statement of Claim
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 20
Methuen v. Millard, testimony transcript of J.C. Squire
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 21
Methuen v. Millard, Defence typescript with handwritten
corrections
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 22
Methuen v. Millard, copies of correspondence from Methuen and
others
1922-1925
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 23
Methuen v. Millard, copies of correspondence with Vyvyan Hollard
1921-1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 24
Methuen v. Millard, original carbon copy of letter from defendant to Mr. V.B.
Holland
1925
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 25
Methuen v. Millard, draft affidavit as to documents by defendant
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 26
Methuen v. Millard, copies of correspondence between Field Roscoe and Cann
Jackson & Cann
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 27
Letter from Sidney Jones to Millard
1925 August 17
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 28
Methuen v. Millard, "Further particulars" (list of others who refused to
publish Masque)
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 29
Methuen v. Millard, documents etc. in possession of the defendant
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 30
Methuen v. Millard, alleged libel on publishers
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 31
Methuen v. Millard, Defence: further particulars
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 32
Advertisement clipping for Times Literary Supplement
192-?
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 33
Correspondence between Millard and Boris de Skessyreff
1925
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 34
"Who wrote 'For the love of the king'?" circulars
1925
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 35
"Parrot in Court" and newspaper photograph of Mrs. Chan-Toon (2nd
copy)
1926 January 6
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 36
John Gilmorton, "A literary hoax?," The outlook
1925 August 8
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 37-38
Methuen v. Millard, Defendant's correspondence (2 copies)
1908-1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 2, Folder 39
Methuen v. Millard, Summons
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 1
Methuen v. Millard, Affidavit as to further documents
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 2
Methuen v. Millard, Particulars of statement of claim
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 3
Methuen v. Millard, Opinion
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 4
Methuen v. Millard, Affidavit as to documents
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 5
Methuen v. Millard, Plaintiff's departmental memoranda
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 6
Methuen v. Millard, Affidavit
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 7
Methuen v. Millard, Copies of documents
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 8
Baptism certificate for Oscar Wilde; Birth, marriage and conviction documents
for Mabel Cosgrove
1926
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 9
Correspondence file
1926-1927
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 10
Press clippings
1926-1927
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 11
G.F. Sims catalog no. 36
1957
General
Catalog from which materials were purchased
box M645Z W6286 Box 3, Folder 12
G.F. Sims, "Who wrote 'For the love of the king'?" The book collector
(reprint)
1958
Letters from "Oscar Wilde" to Leonard Charles Smithers
Series 4.
1880-1900
box ms
Wilde 72, Folder 4
Letter
188-
General Physical Description note: ANS 1 leaf. Forgery. Mourning stationery
headed: 16 Tite Street, Chelsea, SW. Without typescript.
Scope and Contents note
References: Finzi 2578; Dulau 42.
Also available on microfilm:
Wilde 28-12
Old Call Number
W6721L H926 [188-?]
box ms
Wilde 74, Folder 5
Letter
189-
General Physical Description note: ANS 1 leaf. Writing does not appear to be in
Oscar Wilde's hand. Either a forgery or a letter dictated by Wilde to someone who
imitated his hand.
Also available on microfilm:
Wilde 28-83
Old Call Number
W6721L L434 [189-?]
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1898 February 25
General Physical Description note: ALS 1 leaf. Possibly a forgery. Without
typescript. With this: original envelope, addressed, stamped and cancelled;
postmarked: Paris, February 25, 1898.
Scope and Contents note
References: Finzi 2776.
Also available on microfilm:
CLC 220, 249; Wilde 30-111
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1898] [Feb. 25]
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1899
General Physical Description note: ALS 3 p. Forgery.
Also available on microfilm:
Wilde 30-114
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1899?]e
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1899
General Physical Description note: ALS 3 p. Forgery.
Also available on microfilm:
Wilde 30-115
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1899?]f
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1899
General Physical Description note: ALS 4 p. Forgery. Without
typescript.
Scope and Contents note
References: Finzi 2781.
Also available on microfilm:
CLC 220, 249; Wilde 30-112
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1899?]a
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1899
General Physical Description note: ALS 3 p. Forgery. Without
typescript.
Scope and Contents note
References: Finzi 2782.
Also available on microfilm:
CLC 220, 249; Wilde 30-113
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1899?]b
box ms
Wilde 74, Folder 3
Letter
1900
General Physical Description note: ALS 4 p. Identified as a forgery in
correspondence fromSir Rupert Hart-Davis,, dated 10 Nov. 1959.
Without typescript.
Scope and Contents note
References: Finzi 2590a.
Also available on microfilm:
CLC 148; Wilde 28-16
Old Call Number
W6721L I31 [1900?]
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1900
General Physical Description note: ALS 3 p. Forgery. Without
typescript.
Scope and Contents note
References: Finzi 2785.
Also available on microfilm:
CLC 220, 249; Wilde 30-116
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1900?]
box ms
Wilde 77, Folder 3
Letter
1900
General Physical Description note: ALS 4 p. Forgery.
Also available on microfilm:
Wilde 30-99
Old Call Number
W6721L S6642 [1900?]a
Miscellaneous Forgeries Series 5.
box Wildeiana
24, Folder 28
"To M. Jean Moréas"
Note
On printed letterhead from the Lyric Club.
Begins "Earth is the Poet's. What his nimble touch / Makes beautiful, is his.
Commonest things / ..."