LGBTQ+ Studies at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

Charles Ricketts (1866–1931) was an English printer and artist born in Geneva, Switzerland who had a lifelong romance with Charles Haslewood Shannon (1863–1937), a fellow artist and lithographer. The artists lived together in London and collaborated on many artistic projects, like the art journal The Dial (1889–1897) and The Vale Press (1896–1904). Ricketts illustrated and designed works by Wilde, John Gray (1866–1934), and Symonds, and he wrote his own books on printing and typography. 

The Clark Library Charles Ricketts Collection includes costume designs, drawings, prints, book designs, wood engravings, and more. Collection highlights:

• Original pen and ink drawing for “The Lover Despairing to Attain” for The Magazine of Art. Ca. 1889. MS.1963.009; Box 1, Folder 4. 
• Proof designs for Oscar Wilde’s “Poems.” 1892. Clark Artwork; Box 16A, Folder 8. 
• Original pen and ink drawings for Oscar Wilde’s The Sphinx. Ca. 1894. MS.1963.009; Box 1, Folder 7 & 8. 
• Three watercolor and pencil costume designs for Lillah McCarthy in the play Judith by Arnold Bennett. Ca. 1919. Drawer 32, Folder 1. 
• 32 black and white woodcut proofs by Ricketts and Shannon for Vale Press’s edition of the George Thornley translation (1657) of Daphnis & Chloe. MS.1965.003; Box 1 & 2. 

Projects by Ricketts in the Clark Library rare books collection include: 

• Ricketts, Charles S. A Defence of the Revival of Printing. London: Hacon & Ricketts, 1899. Clark Library Press Collection; Press coll. Vale 030.
• Wilde, Oscar. Poems. London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1892. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; PR5811 .E92 *: Ricketts designed the book for Wilde’s Poems.
• Wilde, Oscar. The Sphinx. By Oscar Wilde; with Decorations by Charles Ricketts. London: Elkin Mathews and John Lane, 1894. Clark Library Rare Book Stacks; PR5820 .S751 *.

To find books written or designed by Charles Ricketts at the Clark Library go to UC Library Search. Select the “Author” field and type “Ricketts, Charles S., 1866–1931.” You can also do a keyword search either in the simple search or in the “Any field" field of the “Advanced Search.” Once you have search results, you can limit to the Clark Library by selecting it from the “UCLA Locations” facet.