Signed 'Salome' dances bidders to a £34,000 head

A PREVIOUSLY unknown signed copy of Oscar Wilde's play Salomefetched £34,000 (€40,400) yesterday at a Gloucestershire auction house.

The book, which dates from 1893, two years after Wilde penned the play, bears a handwritten dedication by the author to French symbolist painter Gustave Moreau whose paintings of Salome are said to have inspired the play.

The inscription, which reads " a Gustave Moreau, Hommage respectueux, Oscar Wilde" features Wilde's trademark flourish in the last letter of his name.

The book also features a contemporary photograph of an 1886 Moreau watercolour of Salome dancing, pasted into the opening pages.

Chris Albury, a senior valuer at Dominic Winter Auctioneers, said, “This book came out of nowhere. It appears as though it was a gift from Wilde to Moreau.

“We don’t know if the two ever met, but Wilde openly praised Moreau’s paintings of Salome. It’s generally accepted that it was Moreau’s paintings that inspired Wilde to write the play.” The copy of the play, in French and bound in a hand-painted green, blue and gold cover, went under the hammer at about 5pm, guiding at £20,000. Mr Albury said “in the end, two overseas bidders fought it out in £1,000 increments from £20,000 to the £34,000 hammer price paid by a private collector.”

Wilde wrote Salomein French in 1891. The tale is based on the Bible story where, on dancing for Herod on his birthday, Salome is offered anything she desires and requests John the Baptist's head.

Irish Wilde scholar Dr Noreen Doody said the book was "an exciting and significant find that confirms Wilde's connection to Moreau". Salomewas banned by British theatre censors in 1892, ostensibly because of its depiction of biblical characters but more likely because of the play's focus on sexual passion.

Dr Doody said Wilde incited further controversy when he threatened to become a French citizen in protest.

It wasn't until 1896, when Wilde was in prison, that Salomewas produced, but in France.

Mr Albury said the copy auctioned yesterday “was gifted to the owner by his mother’s landlady in Paris some 40 years ago”.