It gives me great pleasure, to be able to offer another copy of this incredibly rare title for sale. There are differences, between this copy and the one previously listed and sold in 2015. The overall condition of this copy is much better than the other, but it was purchased with the mono, illustrations missing, although the blue card mounts are still present, having retained scanned copies of the mono images I have been able to reproduce a full set of the original illustrations, on photographic paper, as this is how the originals were presented, the difference is something that only a purist might find fault with, for me it is another example of book rescue and restoration. The most surprising thing for me is that the colour cover illustration, which is only printed on thin paper, was not removed, and this is probably the rarest element of a very rare book.
Another major player in the 1930’s flagellation market, along with Orties Blanches, were Les Editions Couvre-Feu, followed by Le Jardin d’Eros, distinctly different in that the contents and illustrations were more twisted and aimed at torture and humiliation, unlike the titles issued by Editions Prima, which always seem to have smiling faces , no matter what act of depravity is taking place, the characters in these editions seem to be taking it a bit more seriously.
ÉpouvantesVoluptueuses
Front Cover
Title Page
J.Van Styk. :Épouvantes Voluptueuses. Le Jardin d’Eros. 6 Rue de Tracy, Paris, s.d. [1935] In Original paper wraps with cover illustration in colour by Wighead, frontispiece and 8 illustrations hors-texte in black by Wighead on papier couche. 191 p.p. (21.2 x 15 cm). Printed by . Imprimerie nouvelle 121, rue de Monument,Champigny -sur-Marne. Overall condition very good, light signs of use and creasing to covers, contents clean and complete, with original coloured cover illustration, and a full set of facsimile mono illustrations (frontispiece and 8 full page loosely inserted in original position along original pale blue soft card mounts).
Bibliographical Description, Courtesy of Christophe Bier
From Les editions du Couvre-Feu. Editions Astarte 2013.
List of Titles
Note: The above list confirms that these titles were issued by retail, shop outlets, most but not all of the titles listed are productions of the Vidal group of publishers.
Having listed this title before, and having mentioned that it is the most common of all the Editions Prima flagellation titles, it pleases me to add another copy, but this time with the frontispiece, which I have never seen before in any copy I have had (4), or in any other copy I have seen for sale, something of a find, and all the more interesting because the illustration is not repeated in the hors-texte contained in the book.
La volupté du Fouet: Armand du Loup :- Éditions Prima : Paris 1938, Frontispiece plus 12 (sepia tone engraved plates) illustrations hors-texte de R. Fanny. ( Etienne Le Rallic-1891/1968). In original printed marbled card covers, 255 pages, (20 x 14 cm). Printed by L’Imprimiere Tassier October 1938. In original publishers green mottled covers, printed in black on cover and spine. Near Fine, uncut pages unread copy.
La volupté du Fouet: Armand du Loup :- Éditions Prima : Paris 1938, Frontispiece plus 12 (sepia tone engraved plates) illustrations hors-texte de R. Fanny.
Serious enquiries only please. For discussion regarding price, or any information or questions about this book, please complete the Contact Form.
The Select-Bibliothèque was one of several publishing houses specializing in fetish material that flourished in Paris during the first half of the twentieth century. Like the others, notably Jean Fort’s ‘Orties Blanches’ series and the ‘Librairie Artistique et Editions Parisiennes Reunies’ of Paul Brenet, the books of the Select Bibliothèque were published openly. Occasionally a title would cross some mysterious line and be prosecuted, but in general, since there was no sex in the conventional sense, these publishers were left to their devices by the authorities.
Despite the openness of these books, the publisher of the Select Bibliothèque remains unknown, at least to this cataloguer. Paul Jérôme writes of Don Brennus Aléra as being “un (ou plusieurs) des pourvoyeurs de l’editeur parisien Massy…”(Dictionnaire des œuvres érotiques, Paris: Mercure de France,1971, p. 484). In fact, Massy was where the earliest books in the series were published. The almost anagramitic similarity of the names of the authors of most of the books – Bernard Valonnes, Don Brennus Aléra, Roland Brevannes – suggests a single hand at work, and one that spanned in excess of 30 years. And it might not be unreasonable to think that the author was also the publisher.
For detail about this title and the publisher follow the link.
ALÉRA, Don Brennus. – Les Asservies. Tome VI. L’esclave du cuir verni. – Chienne de sa femme de chambre. :Select-Bibliothèque, Sceaux [1928]
Impr.-édition Select-Bibliothèque, Sceaux, cover illustration and 14 Illustrations hors-texte signed ‘Esbey.’. 124 pp, 12 x 18.s cm, + 5 page catalogue. Complete.(Series number 59)
This Book: In original publishers, thin illustrated paper wraps printed in green, spine printed in green with original price sticker of 20 Fr,(splitting at front edge base of spine with minor loss), Back cover with Select Bibliotheque motif printed in green. List of titles in series,(59 titles + 7 English language variants), on verso of half title, facing title page. 6 pages of adverts and other titles published by the library. Amazingly complete, example of a very rare and fragile item.
Front Cover
Back Cover
Advert and Sample Text
Esbey 1
Esbey 2 & 3
Esbey 4
Esbey 5
Esbey 6
Esbey 7 & 8
Esbey 9
Esbey 10
Esbey 11
Esbey 12 & 13
Esbey 14
Ads & Letters
Catalogue 1 & 2
Catalogue 2 & 3
Catalogue 5
This Book is For Sale
This Book
Book for Sale: ALÉRA, Don Brennus. – Les Asservies. Tome VI. L’esclave du cuir verni. – Chienne de sa femme de chambre. :Select-Bibliothèque, Sceaux [1928]
Serious enquiries only please. To discuss price and condition, or to offer information or questions, please complete the Contact Form
The Select-Bibliothèque was one of several publishing houses specializing in fetish material that flourished in Paris during the first half of the twentieth century. Like the others, notably Jean Fort’s ‘Orties Blanches’ series and the ‘Librairie Artistique et Editions Parisiennes Reunies’ of Paul Brenet, the books of the Select Bibliothèque were published openly. Occasionally a title would cross some mysterious line and be prosecuted, but in general, since there was no sex in the conventional sense, these publishers were left to their devices by the authorities.
Despite the openness of these books, the publisher of the Select Bibliothèque remains unknown, at least to this cataloguer. Paul Jérôme writes of Don Brennus Aléra as being “un (ou plusieurs) des pourvoyeurs de l’editeur parisien Massy…”(Dictionnaire des œuvres érotiques, Paris: Mercure de France,1971, p. 484). In fact, Massy was where the earliest books in the series were published. The almost anagramitic similarity of the names of the authors of most of the books – Bernard Valonnes, Don Brennus Aléra, Roland Brevannes – suggests a single hand at work, and one that spanned in excess of 30 years. And it might not be unreasonable to think that the author was also the publisher.
For detailed information of the authors and series follow the link.
NOTE: The entry for this particular book is incorrect.
Books for Sale, Aléra, Don Brennus. Le Journal d’une flagellée, Select-Bibliothèque, Sceaux (Seine) 1909.illustrated by Tack.
In original publishers, thin paper covers illustrated by Tack, in rust brown and green with black and white lettering, No 15 in bottom RH corner, title author and series with number printed in green on spine. Select Bibliotheque motif in red and green on back cover. Total, 148 pages, (List of 54 titles and 6 English language variant titles, on verso of Half title) (inc editors note), plus 8 full page illustrations by Tack in pairs on facing pages.(19 x 12.5 cm)
Paper covers ill fitting but fixed, splitting to cover at back, tail of spine, general wear. Extraordinarily rare in any condition and even more so complete.
Cover
Back Cover
Sample text
illustrations by Tack
Tack 1 & 2
Tack 3 + 4
Tack 5 + 6
Tack 7 & 8
Editors Note
This Book is for Sale
This Book
Aléra, Don Brennus. Le Journal d’une flagellée, Select-Bibliothèque, Sceaux (Seine) 1909.illustrated by Tack.
Serious enquiries only please. To discuss condition and price, or to offer any information, or ask any questions please complete the contact form.
Love this one , completely bonkers! The title translates into “Parisiennes and Redskins”, and that is what it is, a flagellation novel based in the wild west, with some French characters, complete with whippings, tortures, scalping and general wickedness. The book is made even stranger by the amazingly weird illustrations, described as “Symbolist”, they do not appear to have anything to do with the story, not a “Redskin” in sight, lots of allusions to vampires, demons, skulls and death and really rather good., in some cases, and rather bad in others.
The book itself is a monster and would make a good weapon, I can imagine myself beating members of the UK government about the head with it, you could probably fell the entire Cabinet, without leaving a dent on this book.
The content is of interest, and working on the principle that no one reading this is remotely concerned with political correctness, I note that Carrington in particular, with his stable of hack writers, was knocking out flagellation books at an incredible rate, and produced books, from pseudo scientific and folklore to unashamed exploitative fiction around this theme. The current title, being an example of “Flagellation Around the World”. He had already hit the States once with “The Memoirs ofDolly Morton”, (1899) or as the French edition is called, “En Virginie”, (1901) which tipped a wink at the moral indignation over slavery in the openly published editions and produced a pornographic novel in the same title in the clandestine edition “The Memoirs of Dolly Morton”. Philadelphia: Society of Private Bibliophiles 1904 . It is worth noting that the English and French editions of the same title often vary in content, as a rule of thumb, those published under the Charles Carrington imprint are primarily concerned with flagellation and violence of all kinds and were openly advertised and sold. Whereas titles published under his clandestine imprints usually have sexual content.
Different periods interest me enormously, and I do find myself drawn to the 1920’s and 30’s in respect of the quality and variety of erotica being produced, ironically my collecting interest, and indeed my primary collection, is non illustrated and 1950’s. But there are similarities, in the nature and patterns of behaviour in the publishers of such material regardless of period. Carrington would have been completely familiar with the tricks and dodges of Maurice Girodias , who was operating half a century later. Equally I think that the flagellation material being produced in the 30’s by Editions du Couvre-Feu, and other imprints of that stable and its competitors owe a great deal to Carrington, and in fact may have stolen material from his, by then outdated, monolithic Victorian tomes.
Bibliographical information on this one is non existent, but I have two copies, this copy and a luxury copy (bigger!), they are both rebound, in this copy only the back cover is preserved. The original cover is identical to the title page.
The other copy will (eventually) be listed in My Charles Carrington Collection.
Title Page
Jean de Villiot: Parisienne et Peux-Rouges, La Flagellation à Travers le Monde. Vingt compositions symboliques de Henri Caruchet. Paris: Charles Carrington, 14 Faubourg Monmatre, 1904. 604 pages, Printed by Alencon. – Imp. Veuve Felix Guy et Cie. Presented in red and black, each page of text embellished with the same red decorative border as the title page.
(This Book), rebound in blue leather spine and front edges, over pale blue patterned boards, with matching lining. Spine with , author, title and artist embossed in gilt. Dimensions (inc. Binding) (22.5 x 16.0 x 6.5. cm) (Weight 1.3 kg)Contents: Original cover and spine not preserved , original back cover bound in. Frontispiece and 19, delicate watercolours by Henri Caruchet, complete and in good order. No indication of paper type, ( but a thick creamy paper of very good quality) No indication of limitation.
Condition: Significant light foxing at both ends of the book, particularly up to page 50, and from page 583 until the end (examples given in the accompanying images) not affecting illustrations.
Note; I have read elsewhere that this book was originally priced in 1904 at 40 Francs. My Other copy (with spine preserved, shows 50 Francs), perhaps, because it is supposedly a luxury variation, it is certainly larger. It is also worth knowing that these books were stored as sheets and either sold, on demand in paper bindings or bound to order with the paper guillotined to size to fit the binding of your choice. Later collectors also, at times choose to have these books rebound, usually as an act of preservation. From available evidence ( The presence of paper covers) this book was openly for sale as shop stock, hence the price on the spine. Despite this, the production numbers must have been small, this book was a very expensive production. It is also very rare.
Jean de Villiot: Parisienne et Peux-Rouges, La Flagellation à Travers le Monde. Vingt compositions symboliques de Henri Caruchet. Paris: Charles Carrington, 14 Faubourg Monmatre, 1904
For any information or additional material to enhance the listing, please complete the contact form
And an extraordinarily beautiful book it is too. Purchased as an investment piece. I must admit that I am not a particular fan of the artist Viset, (Luc Lafnet), even though I have had many books illustrated my him, his Viset identity is usually reserved for his explicit work, Jim Black, mainly for his flagellation material. If I have to choose, then the Viset material, to me is comically obscene, and Jim Black, just weird but not really weird enough.
As for clandestine publishing, and its mysteries, then the combination of Perceau, Briffaut and Duflou, singularly or in any combination, have produced some of the finest of books and this one is no exception, I leave the decision making to the experts and my favourite expert is Patrick Kearney and the bibliographical description is his.
Note: The images are in book form and taken in a way that does not stress or damage the book, as a result they are not flattened images, and may have shadows caused by the curvature of the page when the image is taken, I adjust exposure to give the clearest picture for presentation on this site, the images in the book are clearer and sharper than the images presented here, they are after all engraved plates and not photographs.
Title Page
This Book: GAUTIER, Théophile. – Lettres à la Présidente et galanteries poétiques. édition contenant soixante-cinq lettres inédites et le texte exact de la lettre d’Italie. Publiée avec une introduction et des notes par Helpey [Louis Perceau]. Accompagnée d’une étude sur la Présidente par Sylvestre Bonnard [Pierre Dufay]. Neuilly [Paris]: éditions du Musée secret [?Maurice Duflou],
1927.
Beautifully bound in quarter black leather, with 5 raised bands, author and title in gilt on spine, on blue and grey marbled boards, with matching inner lining. Three sets of additional fep’s, Original covers and spine preserved. Photographic frontispiece of the author, title page printed in red and black matches the cover exactly, 199 numbered pages, printed on Japon Imperial. Letter “I” of 15 copies lettered A-0. (dimensions in binding (23.5 x16 cm) (Weight 1kg)), photographic image on page 101. The 11 engraved plates signed “Viset”, with artists embellishments are all in the latter part of the book after page 121. The list of contents are as detailed in the image below. A fine collection quality copy.
Table of contents
Bibliographical description courtesy of Patrick Kearney
GAUTIER, Théophile. – Lettres à la Présidente et galanteries poétiques. édition contenant soixante-cinq lettres inédites et le texte exact de la lettre d’Italie. Publiée avec une introduction et des notes par Helpey [Louis Perceau]. Accompagnée d’une étude sur la Présidente par Sylvestre Bonnard [Pierre Dufay]. Neuilly [Paris]: éditions du Musée secret [?Maurice Duflou],
1927. 8vo. 199 pp., pl. et portrait. photographiques deThéophile Gautier et de Mme Sabatier, pl. gr. à l’eauforte signées Viset [Luc Lafnet]. Limited to 465 lettered and numbered copies. [Bibliothèque Nationale (3 copies).
And rather a lovely surprise, An English first edition flagellation novel, with illustrations, and a great rarity. This one is for sale, but will take some hard bargaining to free it from my book prison.
Title Page
Guénolé, Pierre: A Strange Passion: Flagellation as Practised at the Present Day Studies, Documentary Evidence, Anecdotes.London and Paris Office Central de Librairie 49 rue de Seine MCMXIV (1914). Translated into English from the Original French Edition. In original publishers brown card covers printed in black with decorative border and duelling cherubs motif. Spine printed in black with original price (Prix 15 Shellings), presumably a wartime joke? ( see images),back cover with small dancer medallion motif. 203 pages (uncut) including six page catalogue + 1 page index for location of illustrations. (19 x 12 cm).
Originally published as: Guénolé, Pierre L’Étrange passion. La Flagellation dans les moeurs d’aujourd’hui. Études et documents. Office Central de Librairie 1904.
Front Cover
Back Cover
Spine
Wartime Joke?
Folded Sheet
Accompanied by a folded glossy sheet, with colour frontispiece, containing the six illustrations listed in the index, 4 in monochrome, and 2 in colour. Frontis and 4 illustrations signed James Barclay, 2 unsigned, but clearly by the same artist. Very light wear and creasing to covers, contents complete and in very good condition, excepting some clumsy separating of the catalogue pages at the end of the book.
A slight diversion back into the world of clandestine publishing. This one has some familiar features around the structure of the title page and the printers motif, but I am hesitant to attribute it to a particular publisher without a little more research. Perhaps one of you knows who the guilty party was?
I have seen this one listed for sale elsewhere with 10 illustrations, and in fact Dutel sees only 10 illustrations, there are in fact 11, one being the frontispiece, as the images below will evidence.
Title Page
ANON; SÉDUCTION. Jeunes amours. Avec des gravures sur cuivre par un artiste célèbre. Published by Aux dépens d’un amateur, pour le profit de quelques autres, MCXXXIX (1939). No Publisher, printed 30th April 1939. In original pink card sleeve and slipcase, 143 p. 24.5 x 20 cm. Loose sheets, White cover with title printed in red, Inner envelope with colour illustrated frontispiece, limitation 49/99, Title page printed in red and black with printers motif medallion printed in red. 10 loose full page illustrations, with very delicate hand coloured etchings. Chapter headings decorated in red and black, black motif chapter endings. Pink Cover and sleeve show signs of use and some discolouration, contents clean and bright with all 11 colour illustrations. Complete Very Good.
