“I AM THE LOVE THAT DARE NOT SPEAK ITS NAME”

DOUGLAS, Alfred. Lyrics. London: Rich and Cowan, 1935. Octavo, original beige paper boards, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, uncut and unopened, original watered silk slipcase. $1200.

Signed limited first edition, number 12 of only 50 copies signed by Alfred Douglas, with frontispiece portrait of the poet.

A prolific poet whose lyric poems are well represented in this volume, Lord Alfred is perhaps best known as an intimate friend of Oscar Wilde and as the son of Lord Queensberry, who was responsible for Wilde's 1895 imprisonment. Includes a large number of poems suppressed by Douglas after their initial publication due to their controversial subject matter.

Light soiling and expert restoration to joints of slipcase, book fine. A beautiful copy.