Topfer

Books for Sale: Starbine, James, Gisèle et Pierrette ou Les Esclaves d’Island Castle, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies, ill, Georges Topfer (Gaston Smit) Paris, 1932

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This Book

Another bookcase find, this one a hard research and my most reliable resource for these books “Bibliocuriosa”, shows this title only under “Artist”, it does reference another title which appears to be a companion to this one that being “Starbine, James, Les Captives de l’Île-sans-nom, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies, 1932”. Neither title has a current sales listing worldwide. Which emphasises, that outside of personal collections no one has seen this book for some considerable time. So this places some importance of the purpose of this site, which is to record in some detail these marginal titles, which otherwise would be lost for good, barring a short paragraph in some bibliographical reference from people who had not seen,  held or opened the book.

original cover and spine bound in

Translated quote from Bibliocuriosa.com

The world of the publication of erotic works in the first half of the 20th century was complicated by the proliferation of publishers’ names used for the publication (and republication) of similar works (whose titles or even pseudonyms could vary).

Librairie Artistique is also known by the following names, which sometimes combine two different names: Artistic and “Fin de siècle” Bookstore, Artistic and Medical Bookstore, Artistic and Medical Bookstore and Parisian Editions reunited, Artistic and Parisian Bookstore reunited, Artistic Bookstore and Parisian Publishing united, etc.

Some of the first publications made at the Librairie Artistique bore the address: 13, rue Thérèse, Paris. We find at the same address the publications “Fin de siècle” (Library, Newspaper, Bookshop of the twentieth century). Some publications clearly indicate the collaboration of the two publishers by the mention: Librairie Artistique et du “Fin de siècle” réunies (1914). Moreover, some publications made at the Librairie Artistique (c. 1910) were first published at the Bibliothèque du journal “Fin de siècle” (c. 1900 or earlier) and some even bear the mention Bibliothèque Artistique et du Fin de siècle (c. 1910) as the name of the publisher in addition to the name Librairie Artistique. We find two names of publishers associated with this period: P. Bergès and F. Pierre (Librairie Artistique and “Fin de siècle”).

From the 1920s onwards, we find only the name of the publisher Paul Brenet associated with the Librairie Artistique and its variants, at 66, boulevard Magenta. This address is also found on publications made at the Édition Parisienne at the beginning of the twentieth century.

To complicate matters further, it is not uncommon for the same book to have more than one publisher mention: a reissue may retain the original title page while changing the cover or vice versa. It is therefore sometimes quite complicated to establish a publication date with certainty. By comparing the appearance of the books (cover, font used, style of the thumbnails, illustrations, etc.), we can at least give an approximate date of publication that we hope will be as close as possible to reality.

We only mention below the works that specifically bear the mention Librairie Artistique on their cover or title page and not all those that could be attributed to this publisher. Civic address: Librairie Artistique (and its variants), 13, rue Thérèse (before 1906) and (after 1906) 66, boulevard Magenta. Paris.

For detail follow this link:-

Bibliocuriosa. Librairie Artistique

Title page

Starbine, James: Gisèle et Pierrette ou Les Esclaves d’Island Castle, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies, 1932.  Imp Dardaillon Saint-Denis  July 1932. Six illustrations.  Georges Topfer (Gaston Smit).
Rebound in black cloth boards title and author in gilt on spine. Original, colour illustrated paper covers preserved, 6 full page illustrations, and as tends to be the case with this publisher multiple decorated page headings and in text illustrations. Very good well preserved copy of a cheaply produced title.

Contents and illustrations

Many of the in text illustrations are also signed Topfer

Cover illustration

 

Frontispiece

Heading chapter1

 

Heading chapter 2

Opposite P 32

Heading chapter 3

 

Heading chapter 4

 

Opposite p48

 

Ending first part

 

Pt 2 Chapter 1

 

Part 2 Chapter 2

 

Ending Part 2

 

Part 3 Chapter 1

 

Ending Part 3 Chapter 1

 

Part 3 Chapter3

 

Ending Part 3 Chapter 3

 

Part 3 chapter 4

 

opposite P154

 

Opposite P176

 

Part 3 chapter 5

 

Part 3 chapter 6

 

Part 3 chapter 7

 

Part3 chapter 8

 

Opposite p 200

 

part 3 Chapter 9

 

Table of Contents

Original back cover

 

See Also

 

Books for Sale: Van Rowel, Désiré, L’Internat des châtiments, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne Réunies, 1933 illustrated by Carlo

 

Books for Sale: Virgans, Jean de, Flagellées, Librairie Franco-Anglaise, 6 illustrations. G. Smit. G Topfer. Paris n.d.1920

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This Book

Another foray into my bookcase seeking titles not previously listed, this one, published by Librarie Franco-Anglaise, a publisher whose books tend not to fare too well, as if not rebound they are likely to perish because of poor paper quality, This particular title is preserved in a very nice binding, and has a very pleasant tactile, size and feeling. You can’t get that on the internet, Perhaps the simplest description of the internet:-

“It totally lacks feelings.”

Librairie Franco-Anglaise. French publisher who was active in Paris c. 1910 until 1935. Some editions add the following publisher name(s): Legrand and Chevallier or M. Legrand alone (after 1919). Many of the publications of the Librairie Franco-Anglaise were first published at the Librairie du Temple.

For detailed information follow links

Bibliocuriosa Librairie_Franco-Anglaise

Bibliocuriosa Librairie_du_Temple

Gaston Smit, also known under the pseudonyms Georges Topfer and James Barclay, is an illustrator about whom little is known. We assume that his real name is Gaston Smit since it is under this name that he illustrated passionate novels for the publisher Albin Michel. Smit is best known for his sadomasochistic illustrations for the following publishers: Amateur-Biblio, Curio, l’Édition Parisienne, Éditions P. Brenet, Éditions Prima, Éditions Jean Fort, Librairie Artistique, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies and Librairie Franco-Anglaise. This artist, possibly French, was active mainly from 1919 to 1933. It is not excluded that he may have published illustrations in newspapers or magazines earlier, but we have not found any trace of this.

For detailed information follow link

Bibliocuriosa Gaston Smit

Title page

Virgans, Jean de, Flagellées, Librairie Franco-Anglaise, 1920. 6 illustrations. G. Smit G Topfer. Imprimerie Bossiere, Saint-Armand, Cher. 265 pages, (iv) adverts. Rebound in Half brown leather on dappled pink boards, author, title and elaborate panel in gilt on spine original illustrated paper covers preserved, very good condition.

illustrations

( NOTE, because of the tightness of the binding impossible to produce flat images)

illustration 1

illustration 2

 

illustrations 4

 

Text and Adverts

sample text

 

other titles

 

Prospectus

 

Back Cover

See also

Books for Sale: Van Rod, Aimé, Asmodée, Visites fantastiques au pays du fouet. Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies. Paris 1922. Illustrated by G.Topfer

 

Bookcase Archives : Van Rod, Aimé, Asmodée, Visites fantastiques au pays du fouet. Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies. Paris 1922. Illustrated by G.Topfer

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This Book

Although normally cheaply produced , titles in this series enjoy profuse illustrations and this is no exception.

 

Title Page

Van Rod, Aimé, Asmodée, Visites fantastiques au pays du fouet. Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies. Paris 1922. Illustrated by G.Topfer
in original illustrated publishers card covers printed in red and blue. Illustrated cover, 1 frontispiece, 3 full page and many in-text illustrations in B&W, 4 color illustrations.223 pages. Certainly an obscure title and rare in original covers, a very nice copy only marred by light sporadic spotting throughout.

As  mentioned elsewhere, the majority of flagellation novels avoided prosecution at the time they were published, only to become the focus of prosecution in the 1950’s.
Bécourt 75: Sentenced by the 10th Chamber Seine Correctional Court on 8 May 1950 and then by the Paris Court of Appeal 10th Chamber on 27 October 1953; sentenced by the 17th Chamber Correctional Court of the Seine on November 25, 1953 and by the Paris Court of Appeal 10th Chamber on June 9, 1954.

Cover

Back

Frontis

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

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23

24

25

26

27.

See Also

Books for Trade: Professeur Alexander, Max, Satyres et Flagellants, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies, Paris, 1909. illustrations by G.Topfer.

Books for Trade: La Beuque, Jean de: Femmes et Corsaires, Amateur-Biblio, Paris,1931. Illustrations by G. Topfer.

 

Books for Sale : La Beuque, Jean de: Femmes et Corsaires, Amateur-Biblio, Paris,1931. Illustrations by G. Topfer.

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Jean de La Beuque is probably the pseudonym of a French author who published sadomasochistic accounts from 1926 to 1930. The accounts published after 1931 are either re-editions of his texts or an unfinished work, completed by Alan Mac Clyde . The introductions to some publications contain notes from editors or Mac Clyde regarding La Beuque’s illness, recovery and death. Editions of texts published under the name of La Beuque in the 1950s are possibly texts previously published under a different title, unless the editor has contented himself with using the pseudonym of La Beuque for texts of a contemporary author.(some of these are written as La Beucque)

See Link :http://www.bibliocuriosa.com/index.php/La_Beuque,_Jean_de

An interesting theory but more likely is I suspect that Mac Clyde was La Bueque, and killed this pseudonym off, for some reason, he did after all also write as Juana La Paz and Jane Spanking! and goodness knows who else?

La Beuque, Jean de: Femmes et corsaires, Amateur-Biblio,2 Ru Guisarde Paris (V1e),1931. Illustrations by G. Topfer.245 pages 14.5 x 23 cm.Imp primerie Le Moil & Pascaly, 88, Cours de Vincennes, Paris, 25 octobre 1931.  In original Illustrated cover, 6 B&W illustrations on loose sheets. Very good condition previously taped at head and tail of spine, pages uncut, general aging to papers, Poor quality original production, with the exception of the loose illustrations which are on unusually thick glossy paper.

Reprint of the same title published by the same press in 1926, Kinsey (843.8 L12 f3 1926), hold a copy of the original edition but it is without illustrations, whether this is because they are absent, or this was an un-illustrated edition is not mentioned.

See Also

Books for Trade: LA BEUQUE, Jean de; Miss Cravache ou Les Vierges Esclaves, Editions Prima, 44 rue Servan, Paris (Xie), n.d. [circa 1932], illustrations by Topfer, Jean de la Beque and Ely Costes.

Bookcase Archive: LA BEUQUE, Jean de; Miss Cravache ou Les Vierges Esclaves, Editions Prima, 44 rue Servan, Paris (Xie), n.d. [circa 1932], illustrations by Topfer, Jean de la Beque and Ely Costes.

/ Steve M. / 5 Comments

Every now and then a book comes along that has everything right about it, this is one such book. Not necessarily because of condition, but because the object itself is aesthetically pleasing, I have had  number of titles produced by Editions Prima, and have  been impressed by the quality of the books, both in structure and content. Despite this it is difficult obtain a  list of titles produced by the press. They appear to have been quite prolific, producing pulp novels in their Editions Gauloise series and  other esoteric titles.I have not been able to locate a definitive list of the flagellation novels.

Matters are made more complex by the list of titles by this author in the front of this volume, none of which are Editions Prima titles. They are all either Amateur-Biblio or Librairie Générale titles, this is possibly explained by this title apparently being a reissue of the same title produced in 1930 by Librairie Générale , I have not had site of that edition, but from the limited material  available on line it looks to be of a much poorer quality than this edition. If this copy is a piracy it is a very expensive one. If anyone can explain this anomaly please complete a contact form.

I have decided to lay this one out in book form, so that the page decorations can be seen in situ, rather than just cropping out the illustrations, I have used only images in the book to construct this listing, it always make me happy when a book provides all of the content required to decorate a listing. Enjoy!

Synopsis

First episode of the adventures of Betty, alias Miss Cravache, daughter of an American businessman installed in Corrèze, with a strong and eccentric character. With the help of her butler and stable master, she took a liking to the domination and training of impressionable young girls, including her niece, whom she treated like a bitch. 

LA BEUQUE, Jean de SMIT; Miss Cravache ou Les Vierges Esclaves, Editions Prima, 44 rue Servan, Paris (Xie), n.d. [circa 1932], illustrations by Topfer, Jean de la Beque and Ely Costes. In original illustrated cover on textured cream card printed in black and red with a red vignette by  Ely Costes. Adorned with 12 inset heliogravures in sepia, on loose sheets including a frontispiece by Topfer [Gaston SMIT) and 4 inset illustrations, decorated caps and chapter ends by Jean de La Beuque and Ely Costes. . In-8 softcover, 14.3 x 22.7 cm. 223 pp. In excellent condition. Reissue, in all respects, of a novel published by the Librairie Générale in 1930. It was belatedly condemned in 1953 by the Seine court.

Covers

see also

Books for Trade: Vincennes, Gaston. L’Amour fouetté. Orné de douze illustrations hors-texte par Ch. Avalanche. Paris, Editions Prima,[vers1930?] . Couverture par Marilac

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

Books for Trade: Matée par le Fouet: Jean Martinet, . Cover and 12 , superb engraved plates by Herric .Éditions Prima, {1930 }

Books for Trade: Jean Martinet, Venez ici, qu’on vous fouette ! : Paris Éditions Prima (1938?)

Books for Trade: Andre Vergereau, Mademoiselle Cinglade, Editions Prima n.d. (1936) illustrated by Marilac (Mario Laboccetta).

 

 

Bookcase Archive: Professeur Alexander, Max, Satyres et Flagellants, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies, Paris, 1909. illustrations by G.Topfer.

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Rather a good find this one and quite a surprise, though far from being an expert on flagellation novels, as evidenced by this blog a significant number of them have passed through my hands and been recorded on this site. I cannot ever remember seeing any depiction of pubic hair in any of these books and most definitely not a depiction of a vagina. This little volume has both. These images are of course commonplace in clandestine erotica, but not so in flagellation novels which were not illegal or subject to prosecution when originally published, although large  numbers were prosecuted in the 1950’s for unknown reasons.

I have difficulty finding other complete copies to reference, Bibliocuriosa (link at the base of this listing ) reference the illustrator of this edition as Leon Roze, but as they do not appear to have the illustrations they cannot have seen that they are clearly signed G.Topfer. I have previously had to apologise for difficulty in scanning images in rebound books and must do so again for this title, it is simply not possible to get the image flat to the scanner in a tightly bound book,but I have done my best.

cover

Title Page

Professeur Alexander, Max, Satyres et Flagellants, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies, Paris, 1909. illustrations by G.Topfer. Rebound in quarter blue leather on marbled boards. Title in gilt on spine with 5 raised bands inter-spaced with gilt fleurons, date 1909 at base of spine.Original colour cover bound in at the back of the book, Monochrome frontispiece and 12 full page illustrations by G Topfer, decorated with chapter headings and endings,  223 pp, 20.5 x 13 cm. Very good condition.

The illustrations

Frontis

 

http://www.bibliocuriosa.com/index.php/Satyres_et_Flagellants

See also

Books for Trade: Max des Vignons, Croisière Voluptueuse, Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies,1934

Books For Trade: J.Van Styk. Épouvantes Voluptueuses. Le Jardin d’Eros. 6 Rue de Tracy, Paris, s.d. [1935]