Books for Trade: Walter Flog. Cinglants Châtiments,Cover and 12 superb engraved plates by Herric. Éditions Prima (1932)

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Previously only listed only in brief, but here for your enjoyment with all the illustrations, superbly executed (no pun), by Herric:- (Chéri Hérouard)


This title is available for trade my Paris Olympia Press wants.


 Chéri Hérouard (1881-1961) was a French artist and illustrator of numerous erotica and spanking novels. He used the pseudonym Herric when he illustrated spanking novels for various French publishing houses, such as Jean Fort’s Collection des Orties Blanches. And as evidenced by these titles also, Editions Prima.

Yet another accidental off shoot of my collecting activity, I found one of these titles and then set out to locate others, they are rather beautiful things and despite the subject matter, which even some erotic  bibliophiles disapprove of, most were not prosecuted at time of publication and only really became the subject of censorship when reprinted , mainly in the 1950’s


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Cinglants Châtiments

Cinglants Chatiments Prima Herric 1932

Walter Flog,  Éditions Prima, (1932) Cover and 12 superb engraved plates by Herric.

Cinglants Chatiments Prima Herric 1932

252 pages. Printed by Imprimerie Tessier, Romainville 32 Rue de Paris

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This copy bound in contemporary quarter leather on marbled boards, original covers preserved. Full description of condition and extra images on request.

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The Illustrations

Cinglants Chatiments Prima Herric 1932

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Cinglants Chatiments Prima Herric 1932

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Cinglants Chatiments Prima Herric 1932

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Cinglants Chatiments Prima Herric 1932

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At the risk of repeating myself, whatever ones view of the subject matter, these are stunningly beautiful illustrations, with all the subjects more feminine than masculine, and so Deco, and also Decadent in style.


Any questions or information about the artist, or especially the publisher, please leave a comment or complete a contact form.


SEE ALSO: (links)

La Volupté du Fouet

Les Confidences de Chérubin

L’Amour fouetté.

editions PRIMA

Fouetteurs et Fouettes

Books for Trade: Mémoires de Fanny Hill. Traduit de l’anglais par Isidore Liseux. BECAT (Paul-Emile)]. CLELAND (John). (n.p., n.d., c. 1940)

MÉMOIRES DE FANNY HILL

Traduit de l’anglais par Isidore Liseux. Bruxelles: [n.p., n.d., c.1940].

8vo. 2 volumes. 118pp., 126pp. Limited edition of 550 copies. 10 watercolors reproduced in heliogravure, with 2 frontispieces by Paul-Émile Bécat.

(Dutel: 1960.  Importante Bibliothèque d’Ouvrages )Érotiques; Hotel Drouot, Salle No. 13, 11 Mars 1987, #50.


Well yet another clandestine edition of Fanny Hill, but this is a little bit special, 2 volumes in a Card Cover with title in gilt on spine, in (the remains of) a slipcase. The books are in original pink printed papers covers and are complete and in very good condition.


The detail at the head of this page comes from The Eroticabibliophile’s checklist of French editions of Fille de Joie, Better known as Fanny Hill, linked below. But I would welcome any information on the publisher or printer.

eroticabibliophile checklist Fille de Joie


Memoires de Fanny Hill

Memoires de Fanny Hill (1940)

Volume 1, in original printed card covers over plain paper wraps. CONTENTS: 2 blank end-papers, Half Title, verso, Limitation, Facing page blank, verso Frontispiece, facing Title Page, verso blank, facing. Lettre Premiere, verso blank, Pages 7-118, TEXT, one blank end paper. Complete with a Frontispiece and four watercolours by Paul Emile Becat (unsigned)


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Memoires de Fanny Hill (1940)


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The Illustrations

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Memoires de Fanny Hill Volume 2

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Volume 2, in original printed card covers over plain paper wraps. CONTENTS: 2 blank end-papers, Half Title, verso, blank, Facing page blank, verso Frontispiece, facing Title Page, verso blank, facing. Lettre Deuxieme, verso blank, Pages 7-126, TEXT, one blank end paper. Complete with a Frontispiece and four watercolours by Paul Emile Becat (unsigned)


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The illustrations

Moemoire de Fanny Hill 1940

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Memoires de Fanny Hill 1940

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Memoires de Fanny Hill 1940

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Memoires de Fanny Hill 1940

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This title is available for trade against my Paris Olympia Press wants, Further detail about condition on request.


Any questions or information about this edition please leave a comment or complete the contact form.



Books for Trade :Memoirs of a Russian Princess. Gleaned from her secret diary,Compiled, noted and arranged by Pasha, Katoumbah. Erotik Biblion Society Paris (New York?)

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Another in my list of clandestine erotica in English, and another illustrated copy, for this one we may have information, to identify printer and publisher, this copy is undated but has the attributes of the true first edition according to bibliocuriosa (link below), however somewhat confusingly gives the information:- Peter Mendes indicates that the first edition was printed in Brussels by Edouard Maheu for Charles Carrington and, probably, Edward Avery in London (note 49-A). At the same time there is a reference to: An exact reprint of earlier edition with the same imprint which was probably published by Geo. Brussel.” Source: Kinsey Institute. The title page of the true first edition is printed in red and black, as is this copy. Well another confusing tangle to unravel, such is the nature of clandestine publications. Here for your information and enjoyment, are the 6 (not 5) illustrations, signed I.Voronoff,  and a sample of cul-de-lamps and printer devices that I am so fond of.

Bibliocuriosa: Memoirs of a Russian Princess


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DESCRIPTION: Bound in dark purple boards with , Black label on spine with gilt bands and title in gilt.

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Contents:3 blank endpapers, half title, verso blank facing blank, verso Frontispiece (with tissue guard, with location of illustration in the book typed on), Title Page, verso blank, limitation, verso decoration (of a rose), pages 7 – 168 text, NOTE TO Page 164, verso decoration (of a rose), pages 172-175 text to NOTE, verso blank, 3 blank endpapers. complete with 6 illustrations.

Many of the pages are uncut. Decorated throughout with the cul-de-lamps and printer devices displayed on this page.

The Illustrations.

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As always this title is available for exchange against any of my Paris Olympia Press Wants


Any Questions or information please leave a comment on this post or complete a contact form

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Books for Trade:The Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure or The Life of Fanny Hill by John Cleland, Hoboken 1929.

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Here we have another clandestine copy, one of an apparently endless list of editions of this title, this one fairly clearly places itself in the Americana category, and the printing date is probably fairly accurate, who the publisher or the illustrator were is something of a mystery, however the printers device above is fairly distinctive, and not really pertinent to this particular title, so I wonder if anyone has seen it elsewhere?

The illustrations are often described as Beardlseyesque, and I can see why, but to me also slightly reminiscent of Beresford Egan.

SPECIAL NOTE: 27/07/15; Message from Pat Kearney;

Steve Hi:

I noted your edition of the ‘Hoboken’ Fanny Hill. According to Cliff
Scheiner’s “Compendium” this was first published in 1929 with the
plates — which says are in the style of Elliot Dodd — in colour. A reprint
with the plates in b&w appeared c. 1932. The original ed. with the
colour plates he describes as “rare and desirable.”

Best

Pat


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This copy is in very nice condition, and better than most I have seen listed, it is bound in coloured patterned boards, in quarter leather with corners, and has LIFE OF FANNY HILL on the spine in gilt.

Two points of note: The Frontispiece is bound in after the Title Page, I think in error, and the edition details on the title page indicate the illustrations are in colour, and in this edition they are not.

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Contents: Blank end-paper, Half Title, verso blank, Title Page, Verso blank, facing page blank, verso Frontispiece, facing page Letter The First, verso limitation (I suspect the number in blue ink is a later addition, it is too clumsy to be original) Pages 1-211 text. Complete with the 12 surreal and exotic Deco illustrations by an Unknown artist.

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NOTE: The Print Decorations used to space the illustrations are not from this title.

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The illustrations

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This title is available as trade against my Paris Olympia Press wants


Any questions or information about the book or its illustrator, please post a comment or complete the Contact form.



Books for Trade: Anonymous: A Week-End Visit, by the Author of – “The Way of a Man With a Maid”, “Parisian Frolics”, etc.. LONDON (ND) (1920-1924)

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Here we have another clandestine puzzle to solve, but also a few clues, to possibly assist us, this book is a delightful little item, printed on good quality paper and with very nice decorative chapter headings consisting of decorative printers devices, which I have enlarged for use in the listing and possibly others. The most interesting image for me however is the small emblem shown below which is identical to that from the title page of my recently listed “Father Silas”. My curiosity made me raise the question with Pat Kearney, about what could be inferred from the same printers device on the two titles, and his response confirmed that it was likely to confirm that it was the same printer, if not the same publisher.

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Pat goes on to say.
“Forgotten if you have Mendes, but he describes “Weekend Visit” at entry
no. 211, indicating that the pagination ends at p. 166 and that it has blue
wrappers with the title on the front printed within an ornamental device
and with a device with cupid’s wings on top. He says that textually the book
seems to be written by the same author as “The Way of a Man with a Maid”
and the translation of “Parisian Frolics”. He makes no suggestion as to who
published it, but feels it was printed between 1920-1924. “

Following this line of investigation, and very much aware that I am making assumptions, I had chanced, identifying “Father Silas” as a 1930 edition possibly published by Hirsch, and because of the format possibly printed by Maurice Duflou.

One way that clandestine publishers are tracked down is often by discovering the clues that give away who the printer was, and what decorative devices they were using sometimes on both clandestine and openly published titles, this can lead to at least an indication of when the book was produced. In this instance all we have thus far is the same small quite crude printers device in two different titles, not conclusive , but at least enough for us to speculate that it might well be the same printer, but is it Duflou?

Fortunately for us, and I emphasise us, the complex decorative designs in “A Week-End Visit”, give us the opportunity to look for these designs in other books of the period, so enough talking and time for you to get looking.


A Week-End Visit,

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by the Author of – “The Way of a Man With a Maid”, “Parisian Frolics”, etc.. LONDON (ND) (1920-1924)

Description: In original thin blue paper covers, with a decorative emblem of a winged cherub, framing the title in a flamboyant box (Printed in Blue).

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Contents: Two blank endpapers, half title, verso blank, Title Page, verso blank, Pages 7 to 166, two blank endpapers.


The Chapter Headings, interspersed with exploded printers decorations

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I have another copy of this title, which I think is a 1950’s facsimile, with a white cover title in black (no decoration)the half title on the verso of the front sheet, and the title page lacking the “By the Author of ” details, otherwise identical with all the decorations, but on very cheap paper.


I almost forgot to say this title is available for trade against my Paris Olympia Press wants.


Any Questions or information please leave a comment, or complete a contact form

LINK: The Life and Adventures of Father Silas


Books for Trade: The Life and Adventures of Father Silas written by himself and now translated from the original French edition (dated 1742) London (Paris) 1907 (1930?)

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Another clandestine gem, which rather amusingly destroys it’s own claim to being the first translation  into English in a book dated 1907, with a translators note dated 1896, which would approximate with the date of the Carrington edition, this copy is likely by Hirsch c:1930, one of two versions of around that date this possibly printed by Maurice Duflou, given its small size and variant emblem on the title page.


This Book is available for trade against any of my Olympia Press wants or other rare or curious items of erotica that might enhance my listings



The Life and Adventures of Father Silas

Title Page

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Description: In original salmon pink paper wraps over plain card covers, with printed title on cover, with The Life and Adventures of Father Silas (1742)  I LONDON 1907  I printed across the spine. Back cover plain.

Spine 

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CONTENTS: Half Title, verso blank, Title Page, verso blank, two page Translators Note, Text pages 7-125, blank end paper.

Half Title

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Translators note

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Translators Note 2

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Front Cover

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Lacks the Paul Avril plates called for but still very rare in its original covers, printed on good quality paper and in very nice condition.

The publishing history is long and complicated and described in detail by Patrick Kearney on his Scissors and Paste website, with editions in a variety of languages, he identifies a possible English translation from a copy recorded but now lost as early as 1743.

Checklist Histoire de  Dom B


Any Questions Please leave a comment


Clandestine Erotica: Some thoughts on Clandestine/Defiant Literature and the battle against Censorship

At the risk of setting myself up as an expert, which I most certainly am not, I want to put some context around what to me has been and still is an absolutely fascinating area in the history of publishing. I make the distinction between clandestine publications which most heavy end erotica was for centuries, as it was the pornography of its time, and has only become erotica with the passage of time, offering a thinly veiled respectability to those interested in its content. The risk associated with the publication of such material was enormous in from the 18th century through to  the late 20th century and arguably not entirely risk free today,


Jean Marie Goulemot

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Forbidden Texts Polity Press 1994


Defiant literature as I have called it, is a later phenomena where publishers such as Girodias at The Olympia Press, and to a lesser degree his Father Jack Kahane, founder of the Obelisk Press, and their French counterpart Eric Losfeld a contemporary and friend of Girodias, published material with their name attached and the address of their business and said “here I am come and get me”, and come they did. Although Losfeld published a large number of clandestine titles, and I suspect, but cannot prove that Kahane put out a small number, to the best of my knowledge Girodias published all of his titles openly but not without subterfuge.


Colette Colligan

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A Publishers Paradise Massachusetts 2014



Early clandestine publishing has a complex and by design, difficult to follow history, although if you attempt to read any of this material, as with modern pornography, once the peak of erotic interest has been reached it becomes unreadable, however many early clandestine books had another purpose, many were anti religious tracts or slanders against the state or crown, where even if not actually naming an individual, to those who could read in those times (not that many) the central characters carrying out the acts of debauchery were clearly identifiable. Understandably the target of such ridicule, who were powerful individuals were intent on exacting revenge, should the opportunity allow, and punishments for those caught were extreme, I can’t imagine being imprisoned has ever been much fun, but the thought of an 18th century prison, defies comprehension for the modern mind

Punishment for publishers of such books in the 18th and 19th centuries,if they ever got out of prison, could range from having all of their books seized and destroyed, to having the right to print anything removed, as in many countries the activity had been licensed, in recognition of the pen being mightier than the sword. Banishment was not an uncommon punishment, this might just be from a City and its environs, an area of a country, and if you were not a citizen the country itself. A frightening prospect  for most, and in many cases the end of their career and livelihood, others however shrugged their shoulders and moved on and became publishing nomads shifting around Europe in search of more liberal attitudes to their activities, but never really safe from the long reach of their historical subjects of ridicule.


Patrick Kearney

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A History of Erotic Literature Macmillan 1982


As a result of the risks, many devious strategies developed to avoid detection, this ranges from having your books printed in another country, a common practice, to concealing the identity of the publisher behind a mesh of misinformation on the title page of the books, with comically constructed fake details of location , name and date, a practice that continued up until the 1960’s, for many of these books there is still no certainty who produced them or even where they were produced.


John Calder

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The Garden of Eros Alma 2013


As for the Defiant publications, these were much more  clearly a battle against state interference in controlling what could or could not be read by you or I, Kahane, Girodias and Losfeld all believed in their right to publish, and your right to decide whether or not to read, they saw state censorship as an invasion of the rights of the individual and produced amongst the smut and the porn, or whatever you prefer to call it, some of the finest avant-garde literature produced in the last century, as well as historical works never before available in English, I defy anyone to name any other publisher with a list as impressive as Girodias.


John Baxter

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A Pound of Paper Doubleday 2002


Within this post and fairly randomly are examples of books you really should read if you are genuinely interested in this area of publishing, there are many many more titles but you can find your own way, and within each of these are references to other books which you can pursue at your leisure, the selection above provides a nice mix of old and new.


Anyone requiring any more suggestions or wishing to make any please leave a comment or complete a contact form.

Books for Trade: Nunnery Tales, by T.N.R with illustrations by Le Roy. The Royal Press, London-Paris 1902 (1935)

Another clandestine gem with all the usual trickery and misinformation, even more complicated if you pursue its possible origin under a variety of French editions, This copy despite its fake publication date of 1902 (1935) is still a rare and interesting item, with illustrated endpapers and five full page illustrations by Le Roy. Making this one of those rare items of English Erotica with illustrations.


This book is available for trade against my Paris Olympia Press Wants or other rare books or items of erotic ephemera that would enhance my listings


Nunnery Tales, by T.N.R with illustrations by Le Roy. The Royal Press, London-Paris 1902 (1935)

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Description: Bound in grey boards with title author and publishers details in gilt on the spine.

Nunnery Tales 1902 Illustrated Endpapers Illustrated end Papers.

Nunnery Tales 1902 Title Page

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Nunnery Tales 1902 Half Title

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Nunnery Tales 1902 Limitation Page

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CONTENTS: Illustrated  End Papers-Blank ffep, Title Page (verso blank) Half title (verso blank) Limitation Page(Verso blank)  399 pages of text,blank end page,Illustrated End Papers (repeat of front). Illustrated with 5 full page erotic prints by Le Roy, and decorated throughout with cul-de-lamps.

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The Illustrations.


1 Erotic Illustration Le Roy



2 Illustration by Le Roy Nunnery Tales



3 Iluustration by Le Roy for Nunnery Tales



4. Illustration by Le Roy for Nunnery Tales 1902



5 Illustration by Le Roy for Nunnery Tales 1902



Rear End Papers Nunnery Tales 1902 Le Roy


The Erotica Bibliophile offers the following bibliographical information as part of a list of titles produced by William Dugdale.

NUNNERY TALES: Or Cruising under False Colours: A Tale of Love and Lust. London: Printed for the Booksellers,

[1866, 1867, 1868]

8vo. 3 volumes. 134pp., 128pp., 137pp. 24 colored lithographs.
Original edition. Later published c.1888, probably in Amsterdam by Brancart/Van Crombrugge. Another edition was published in 1899 Paris for the Erotica Biblion Society. A U.S. clandestine reprint was issued ‘By T.N.R. Lond-Paris, Royal Press, 1902’ [New York, c.1935] on laid paper. Not in the British Library.
(Ashbee: Vol.3, p.152.  Mendes: 26-A and 26-B)
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Book For Trade:THE LASCIVIOUS HYPOCRITE or the TRIUMPHS of VICE a Free Translation of Le Tartuffe Libertin. Done at Cythera by the Keeper of the Temple: MDCCXC

In an attempt to mix it up a little, I am listing some earlier clandestine titles in English, prior to returning to more Olympia duplicates and French erotica titles.


This Title is available for trade against any of my Paris Olympia Press wants


THE LASCIVIOUS HYPOCRITE or the TRIUMPHS of VICE a Free Translation of Le Tartuffe Libertin. Done at Cythera by the Keeper of the Temple: MDCCXC .

Title Page

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A very nice example of a rare clandestine publication. In extraordinarily good condition, near fine, with anonymous red card covers , half title, title page in red and black, 73 pages. The original French version sometimes accredited to the Marquis De Sade, was published around 1830 and condemned in 1845, there are few facts about the publication history and much room for discussion. On his very impressive blog Le Bibliomane Moderne, the editor discusses at length issues around the original French edition, and the inadequacies of bibliographical records.

Half Title

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So no surprise that this copy then has even less researchable material, I was pointed by another party in the direction of the Phyllis and Eberhard Kronhausen’s Pornography and the Law 1959 and 1964, a complete mess of pseudo science and psychobabble, which uses the book as an example of extreme pornography, and dedicates many pages to analysing the content with no reference at all to its publishing history, there are secondary references to it being published around 1930, the typography and title page design certainly appear earlier, however how that can be ascertained I am unsure, regardless this appears to be the first  English language edition, an entirely clandestine edition of uncertain provenance, in extraordinarily good condition.Private Case 977. LASCIVIOUS HYPOCRITE (The), or, The Triumphs of Vice. A Free translation of Le Tartuffe libertin. Cythera: By the Keeper of the Temple,1790. (Paris: ?1930.) 8vo. pp. 73. Original plain maroon wrappers preserved. Dawes Bequest. (13 June 1964.)

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Please feel free to ask any questions or offer any information to enhance this listing

Follow this link to view Le Bibliomane Moderne Blog on Tartuffe Libertin

Tatuffe Libertin

The Story of a Bookcase: The Amsterdam Years

From around 1983, I started to look further afield to seek out , both books for my collection and other mainly clandestine titles in French, but also sometimes English, the French titles tended to be better sellers as often they were illustrated and the English versions rarely so. By this time my bookcase contained a small selection of Olympia titles, mostly obtained from a book runner, named John who made regular trips to Paris in his white van and carried back a selection of late Olympia Traveller’s and Ophir books, most of which I would later find copies of myself in Paris bookshops as remainders, so there must have been a lot of them lying around, but more of that in my Paris chapter. Along with copies of Traveller’s I had obtained by way of trade with Michael Goss, I had about 20 titles in my collection.

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The decision to go to Amsterdam might seem odd, because of the Olympia Press Paris connection, but I was not in the position just to buy for the collection and needed to find other books that I could use to trade. Having done my homework I knew of Amsterdam’s historical link with clandestine publishing, and more commonly printing, often English and French erotica was actually printed in the Netherlands as the home countries were high risk for both publisher and printers, hence the development of clandestine imprints, which became something of a specialism for me. And as a bottom line, books in France were and still are very expensive, foreign language books in the Netherlands were much cheaper. The currency in the Netherlands was then the Guilder, with an exchange rate of around 3 Guilder to the UK Pound.

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Both travel, by coach and accommodation, Hostel, were cheap and basic, and until I got to the point where I had to put a price on my time, the norm and in the early 80’s these trips were as much leisure as business, although I did little else than look for books, eat, and get stoned. My favourite place to stay for a long time was the Euphemia and its sister establishment the International Budget hotel, both really hostels, and often in multi bedded shared rooms, which was quite an interesting experience, especially when one retires at night in a room with 7 other empty beds, and awakes in the morning sharing with 4 young women running around semi-clad, not an erotic fantasy, but an actual event and in reality quite unnerving.

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I love Amsterdam, it is by far my favourite city , both for its liberal attitude to cannabis and for its wealth of bookshops, there is something in the character of the Dutch that makes them less likely to use the internet to trade, absolutely no idea why but it certainly appears to be the case, and as a result, the closure of bookshops although happening has been much slower than much of the rest of Europe.

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Once you have unravelled the mystery of navigating around Amsterdam, it is a delight just to roam without any destination in mind, navigating is likely the best term to describe how to get around with ease, as the city was built with canals as its main arteries and roads as the veins. There are lists of second hand bookshops available on line and there are enough to warrant more than a few days visiting them. And then there are the markets and the junk shops to visit many of which have English books.

I cant promise that you would have an easy time finding Olympia Press titles, and it never has been easy, often a case of being in the right place at the right time, and ultimately building a network of contacts, I went from my first (books focussed) visit to Amsterdam, making the mistake of imbibing too much herbal tobacco, notoriously stronger over there, and as a result suffering horrifying paranoia, which cost me an entire day, to some years later going to Amsterdam and other places in the Netherlands taking bags of books with me to trade with my contacts over there, thereby covering the cost of my trip and accommodation.

My best Olympia find in Amsterdam was at a Bookfair in Dam Square , this would have been in the mid 90’s, I spotted a stall with a few Olympia Traveller’s Companion Series, which I quickly claimed, and then asked the stall holder if he had any more, only to be presented with a box of Paris Olympia titles, and another box of US Olympia titles along with some 20 Brandon House books. A bout of haggling followed and , after emptying my rucksack of all my clothes, I left the scene victorious and absolutely broke, spending my last night in Amsterdam, hungry but elated, and practice lifting the rucksack which, weighed nearly 30 Kilos, for a planned late arrival at check in for my flight, as I had no money to pay excess baggage so I advanced to the desk the bag held high in the air, saying ,“only this bag”, to be waived through with the comment, “its either very light or you are very strong”.

Best of all however were the contacts I made over the years and I will mention two here by Trading name only, as I do not have permission to share their  actual names. The first small shop that became the focus of my attention is located at Planciusstraat 26 and is listed as Boekwinkel Fukkink, and extraordinary, phonetic pun for the puerile English imagination, and a very special little shop, It took me a very long time to get to know the owner, but eventually he and I and another friend spent many hours after closing time in his bookshop drinking whisky and talking. Here I was able to find a nice selection of early clandestine titles by the likes of Brancart , Liseux and Gay , and it was also here that I purchased, although it was more of a gift, the first edition of Lolita, (rebound without the original covers), the owner though somewhat shy and reclusive, is extremely knowledgeable, and multi linguistic and an absolute gentleman.

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As slight aside, but continuing the theme of phonetic accidents and puerile English humour, I got my first ever copy of the first edition of “The Story of O” at a shop in Amsterdam named Antikvariat Kok, brilliant name, and the book cost me 38 guilders in 1988, I was panicked about my possible misunderstanding of the exchange rate, then about 3 Guilder to the UK£, or even the possibility of a missing 0 in the price of the book, but no , it was 38 Guilder, or just over £12. Read and weep.

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Another favourite shop is the oddly named  Boek & Glas at Agatha Dekenstraat 47, not so odd really as the owners had two shops opposite each other one trading in glass items and the other a bookbindery come second hand bookshop. I became good friends with the owners and took many titles from the UK to trade with them, and they found some great books for me including Olympia Press titles, they were warm and welcoming hosts and I was fortunate enough over the years to share meals with them along with various members of my social circle who occasionally, accompanied me on my trips.

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I cannot easily describe the difference between visiting the Netherlands as a tourist and that of a trader, it is however a world apart, and in part I suspect that the Netherlands, because  of its  total dependence on trade , has encouraged its citizens to develop amazing linguistic skills, but whether that alone can explain the warmth and generosity of its people I somehow doubt. More than anywhere else, I miss my book hunting trips to Amsterdam, but also other locations in the Netherlands. At the risk of boring you I will continue my Dutch adventures at a later date, including reference to one of the most amazing collections of erotica I have ever seen.