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Wilde (Oscar) and his Literary Circle Collection: Forgeries
MS. Wilde Forgeries  
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Table of contents What's This?

 

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)

General Physical Description note: Bound in original wrappers. Catalog record in UCLA Library Catalog. Sims catalog no. 14
 

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)

General Physical Description note: Copy of book presented to William Figgis by "Andre Gide." Cataloged in UCLA Library Catalog. Sims catalog no. 33
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

G.F. Sims Catalogue 35

 

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

Salome

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 / ..."