The following letter is typed and signed by J. M. Stuart-Young on printed stationery with the printed words:
BURNHAM GROVE,
EAST BOLDON,
COUNTY DURHAM.
appearing toward the upper right hand side of the page. The following is a transcription of the typed letter:
BURNHAM GROVE,
EAST BOLDON,
COUNTY DURHAM.
24th January, 1907
Mr. Mosher, | P O R T L A N D , Maine. || Dear Sir, || I have noticed that you make a speciality of Oscar Wilde’s | books, and I have one of your sumptuous editions on my shelves. || I wonder if you would care to undertake an edition of my “Osrac”? || The Copyright is my own, and I should like to see it known across | the Atlantic. || Wilde and I were great friends,- with that friendship which he de- | clared to be the finest possible, for I was a boy of fifteen in 1894, | the year when calamity came to him. || My poem has been issued here with others under the name of “An | Urning’s Love” superfine paper and vellum bound at two guineas the co- | py. The edition was private, and I haven’t a copy to send you.– | but it would be far too bulky for you to use in its entirety. The | poem “Osrac” was elaborated into thirtynine stanzas in that edition, | and various corrections made from the slim edition which I submit to | you now for perusal. || Should you be able to make me an offer, I will be pleased to send | you the more elaborate version. Meanwhile I think that this copy will | serve to show you the possibilities of my work. || Trusting to hear from you soon, and thanking you cordially for the great work which you are doing for tasteful literature in these | commercial times, I remain,
Yours sincerely,
J. M. Stuart-Young [ signed ]
The above letter was loosely laid in a copy of Stuart-Young’s Osrac, the Self-Sufficient (Sunderland: The Keystone Press, 1905) which carries the bookplate of Thomas Olman Todd of Sunderland in addition to the bookplate of Thomas Bird Mosher. Also loosely laid in is a four page article (pp. 573-576) entitled “Oscar Wilde: A Memoir” by J. M. Stuart-Young with the words “English Illustrated Magazine | Sept, 1905” written at the top in Stuart-Young’s hand. In addition, there is loosely laid in a postcard advertisement for “PASSION’S PERIL.” Furthermore, on the copyright page Stuart-Young has added the wording under the address of Ardwick Green, Mancahester: “and (or) | Burnham Grove | East Boldon | County Durham.”