In 8° (mm 220x155); pp. 361, (1). Limited edition of 1000 copies on handmade paper. Sought-after and elegant amateur binding, signed by Fluchaire in gilt inside front plate; full blue leather and floral-style inlays in green, eggplant pink and hazelnut leather with flowers and dragonflies to plates and spine with four sinew and gilt titles, blue silk sguards and 5 concentric gilt frames, gilt double-threaded dentelles. Magnificent specimen with signed mosaic binding, a beautiful example of the art of turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau binding. First published in a shorter version as a short story in the July 1890 issue of Lippincott's American Monthly Magazine, the novelized version was published in April 1891. The story revolves around a portrait of Dorian Gray, painted by Basil Hallward, Dorian's friend and an artist infatuated with Dorian's exceptional beauty. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton and soon becomes fascinated by the hedonistic worldview enunciated by the aristocrat, who believes that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life. Understanding that his own beauty will fade, Dorian expresses a desire to sell his soul, to ensure that the painted image, rather than his own body, will age and fade away. The wish is granted and Dorian pursues a libertine life of various amoral experiences while remaining young and beautiful throughout the years; meanwhile, his portrait ages and visually records all of Dorian's sins.The Picture of Dorian Gray stands as an excellent masterpiece of English Gothic literature and a true celebration of the cult of beauty.