DOUGLAS, LORD ALFRED. 1870-1945.
WILDE, OSCAR. 1854-1900. The Spirit Lamp: An Oxford Magazine without News. Oxford: 1892-93. 11 original issues (of 15) in 4 volumes. 8vo (220 x 170 mm). Lacking vol 1 issue 1, vol 2 issues 3 and 4, vol 3 issue 1. Original yellow wrappers to vols 1-3, blue wrappers to vol. 4. Some wrappers lightly browned and brittle, some backstrips repaired.
A rare near-complete set of The Spirit Lamp, containing two of three Oscar Wilde first appearances: "The House of Judgement" in volume 3, no 2, and "The Disciple" in volume 4, no 2. Douglas and Wason's short-lived literary magazine was produced over a year at Oxford University. Lord Douglas did not complete his degree, leaving Oxford in late 1893, and Wason went on to become a cleric for a parish near Truro, Cornwall, but lost his job when he started to dispute the use of incense. This publication intensified Bosie's conflict with his father, the 9th Marquess of Queensbury, which eventually led to the public libel trial between Queensbury and Wilde. Mason 264 & 265.