Forgeries from "Andre Gide" and Dorian Hope, 1920-1957, bulk: 1920 - 1957
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.
Dates
- Creation: 1920-1957
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1920 - 1957
Creator
- From the File: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library (Organization)
Access
Collection is open for research.
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).
Extent
2 boxes
Language of Materials
From the File: English
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.
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).
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm available: Wilde 21-2
Original Call Number
Originally cataloged as W6721M C697 1887 1900 Boxed.
Repository Details
Part of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library Repository