Original 1893 First Edition of Oscar Wilde’s SALOME Drame En Une Acte. One of 600, un-numbered copies published in Paris in the original French language Wilde chose for this play. Published by Paris Librairie De L'Art Independant; London Elkin Mathews and John Lane. The play was not published in England until the following year.
 
A lovely fine copy of this delicate publication. Octavo. Original purple wrappers, uncut 77/8” x 53/4”, titles and decoration in silver. Housed in a custom half Morocco leather and cloth slip-case. A fine with minor wear to the wrappers which have separated from the spine but internal pages are fresh.
 
The first appearance of Wilde's play was in Paris where it was first published in 1893 and performed. Wilde submitted the play to the leading French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who accepted it for production in her forthcoming season in London at the Royal English Opera House. At that time all plays presented in Britain had to be approved by the official censor, Lord Chamberlain, and approval was withheld because of a rule prohibiting the depiction of biblical characters on stage. Wilde expressed outrage and said he would leave England and take French citizenship. Bernhardt too condemned the ban and said she would present the play in Paris at some time, although she could not say when.
 
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