Exquisite matte-finish 7.5 x 9.5 mounted portrait of Oscar Wilde in a head-and-shoulders pose, boldly signed and inscribed in fountain pen to his assistant editor, "Arthur Fish, from his friend, Oscar Wilde, '90.” In fine condition.
Fish was Wilde's long-suffering assistant during his editorship of The Woman's World, a Victorian women's magazine edited by Oscar Wilde between 1887 and 1889. When Wilde could not be bothered to write his column 'Literary and Other Notes,' which happened with increasing frequency as his editorship progressed, he would rely upon Fish as a ghostwriter to fill the deficiency. Fish also helped Wilde to attend to his correspondence, drafting letters on his behalf—evidently dictated by Wilde or otherwise written under his instruction.
The two stayed in touch after Wilde left the magazine. In the summer of 1890, Wilde wrote to congratulate him on his engagement, and followed with a letter on August 8th: 'My dear Arthur Fish, You said you would like a photograph of me. I have got one for you. Will you come and get it, either tomorrow (Saturday) at six o'clock or Sunday at twelve o'clock. I fear you may be engaged, but should like to see you before your marriage, and give you my best wishes in person.'
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