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The British Library has paid tribute to deceased Irish writer the literary icon by reissuing a library pass in his honor, 130 years after his initial got cancelled following his conviction for homosexual acts.

The celebrated novelist, poet and playwright was excluded from the institution's study area in the late 19th century over his prosecution for having had same-sex affairs, which was a criminal offence at the time.

The new card, which will be collected by his descendant, writer his grandson, on Thursday, is intended to "recognize the wrongs and great pain" the writer endured, the institution said.

The grandson said the reissued pass is a "lovely gesture of forgiveness" and "I believe his memory will be honored and pleased".

The decision to withdraw the author's access for the reading room - then the British Museum reading room - was recorded without explanation in the trustees' minutes for 15 June 1895.

The writer had been in jail for several weeks at the time after being given a lengthy jail term with hard labour.

Wilde was convicted after he was defeated in a libel trial against the Marquess of Queensberry, who had charged him of being homosexual after learning that his offspring, Lord Alfred Douglas, was Wilde's lover.

The library regulations at the time said anyone found guilty of a offence should have their card revoked.

'Jail correspondence deeply impactful'

The British Library holds original manuscripts of some of the author's most well-known works including The Importance of Being Ernest, An Ideal Husband, "A Woman of No Importance" and Lady Windermere's Fan.

Its collection also includes De Profundis, the correspondence he penned to Lord Alfred Douglas from Reading Gaol.

Merlin Holland, the sole surviving relative of the writer, will receive the new card at a ceremony at the venue on what would have been his grandfather's 171st birthday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Holland said he felt both "proud" of his grandfather and somewhat weighted by the duty of managing his heritage.

"Many correspondents share, 'Your ancestor's De Profundis had a profound effect on my life'" he explained.

"It has a note of positivity at the end... he's going to come out of prison and do something again".

"And people have written to me saying, 'In a moment of terrible depression about my own life I read De Profundis, and I just wanted you to know that your grandfather's letter from prison meant so much to me'".

Dame Carol Black, chair of the British Library, described the author as "a foremost 19th-century literary personality".

She said that by reinstating his library card, "we hope to not only honour Wilde's memory but also acknowledge the injustices and immense suffering he faced as a result of his conviction".

She added that they were "delighted" to welcome his grandson - who is the author of a new book, After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal - to accept the library card on his part.