To Helena Sickert

[Circa 1 March 1885] 16 Tite Street

Dear Miss Nellie, Is it in accordance with the right principles of political economy to sell a poet’s love letters? Your sincere friend

OSCAR WILDE

William Benson, elder brother of Frank Benson, the actor, was an architect and designer in metalwork. Since decorating his own ‘House Beautiful’ in Tite Street, Wilde’s views on house decoration had developed considerably from the rather theoretical lectures he was giving three years before in America.