A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde Value Guide

Published in 1891 as Oscar Wilde's second collection of fairy tales, A House of Pomegranates is a cornerstone of Symbolist literature intended for a mature audience. This work is highly collectible for its ornate prose and its departure from the simpler style of Wilde's earlier collection, The Happy Prince.

What affects the value of A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde?

• Condition of the cloth cover, as Victorian bindings are prone to fading and wear at the spine.
• Presence of original illustrations and the overall crispness of the interior paper and ink.
• Provenance or evidence of previous ownership by notable literary collectors.
• Market demand for Wilde's Symbolist works compared to his more common plays and poems.

How to Identify A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde?

• Verify the 1891 publication date on the title page to confirm the first edition status.
• Check for the original cloth binding, which often features intricate Victorian-era decorative designs.
• Look for the four specific stories: The Young King, The Birthday of the Infanta, The Fisherman and his Soul, and The Star-Child.
• Examine the paper quality and ink for authentic late 19th-century United Kingdom printing standards.

History of A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, an Irish poet and playwright, published 'A House of Pomegranates' as his second collection of fairy tales. Unlike his first collection, 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales,' these stories were intended for a more mature audience, reflecting deeper allegorical and symbolic themes. The book was initially met with mixed reviews, with some critics finding its prose too ornate, but it has since been recognized as a significant work in children's literature and symbolist literature.