charles carrington

Charles Carrington Collection: Jean de Villiot: Volées de bois vert – Librairie des Bibliophiles Parisiens-Une pelote de ficelle; Juanita; La Jolie secrétaire; Deux sur Dix; Ouvrage orné d’aquarelles. – Martin Van Maele – Paris 1905.

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Update 14/12/2It appears that there was more missing than we assumed, so now we are light not one but two illustrations. My initial though is that there was possibly a separate loose illustration, certainly there are no hors-text in our copy. and there does not appear to be any loss of text.

More on this at  later date, Many thinks, to Sheryl Perry.

Un volume in 8 (dim. tot. 23 x 17) de 182 p. chiff., première de couverture conservée, non rogné (sauf en tête).
Mention de tirage à 500 exemplaires, n° 217. Impression sur beau papier de rives.
Grandes lettrines art nouveau en noir et rouge gravées sur bois et 16 illustrations (in texte et hors texte) coloriées au pochoir à l’aquarelle par Martin Van Maele.
Première édition illustrée.
Ex-libris Alfred Muranyi Roho, avec mention S. Della Bella fecit (…), A. Hartmann excudit Vienna 1914.
Reliure de l’époque, demi cuir rouge à coins (basane?), tête dorée, dos à nerfs orné.
Reliure en bon état mais un peu frottée (coins, coiffes, mors) avec de petits manques superficiels de peau, épidermures un peu plus larges au second plat, petits manques de papiers sur les coupes, cuir un peu sali. Intérieur en bel état, quelques rousseurs et salissures sans gravité, petits plis à la couverture.
Google Translated:

A volume in 8 (total size 23 x 17) of 182 p. cipher, front cover preserved, uncropped (except at the top).
Notice of edition of 500 copies, n° 217. Printing on beautiful rives paper.
Large art nouveau initials in black and red engraved on wood and 16 illustrations (in text and out of text) colored with a watercolor stencil by Martin Van Maele.
First illustrated edition.
Ex-libris Alfred Muranyi Roho, with mention S. Della Bella fecit (…), A. Hartmann excudit Vienna 1914.
Contemporary binding, half red leather with corners (basane?), gilded head, decorated ribbed spine.
Binding in good condition but a little rubbed (corners, caps, joints) with small superficial gaps in skin, slightly larger scratches on the second cover, small gaps in paper on the cuts, slightly soiled leather. Interior in good condition, some minor foxing and dirt, small folds on the cover.

 

Update 20/11/24

A breathless Watson dashes into Homes’ study, roughly pushing  Mrs Hudson, crashing to the floor in an explosion of tea, syringes and an explosion of skirts and underwear, but curiously  “no pantaloons, didn’t realise she had one of them”,  thought Watson. Absent mindedly calming a frontal trouser disturbance, he accosted Holmes, and panting madly with his Smith and Wesson clutched in his trembling hand, cocked and in danger of  shooting up, (The gun not Holmes), well something had to!, Holmes you will not be able to deduce this time.

Holmes observed his simple minded but enthusiastic side kick, and taking a huge sniff of his Borkum Riff (no 33a) snuff , liberally laced with raw Bolivian cocaine, he looked down on his friend, difficult when sitting down and the object of your pity standing, but there are special degrees of superiority, and some people look down on everyone regardless of their own position.

“Elementary my dear Watson” said Holmes, “Oh  shit not again” thought Watson. —- It was a highly skilled book detective, a worthy opponent I must  say, and surprisingly, even the dastardly Moriarty ( had to. Sorry!) fears this person who is of the Female persuasion and therefore a threat to all men. Yes Watson “Sheryl Perry” had the missing cover, as I told you but a week ago we must find the thief but due to my fearsome reputation and skills I have outwitted the culprit and the missing pages have been returned!, “But how” cried Watson falling to his knees and blowing his brains out and fatally wounding Mrs Watson with the ricochet.

Completely oblivious to the chaos around him Holmes sliding from  his chair , a crushed silk handkerchief, made from tiny silkworms only found in New Mexico,  wound tightly around his left upper arm, with his last breath whispered ” she pasted it in an e-mail to Steve M he copied me in and posted me this beautiful silk handkerchief , a gift of adm………………

( cue: faint female laughter and a softly whispered ” Sheryl, Holmes is left handed!)

 Thanks to Sheryl who located the missing pages. My apologies to her and the other person that reads my blog.. Who no doubt will be relieved to know that my next skit will be in the style of  Georges Bataille.

The Evidence

Jean de Villiot: Volées de bois vert – Librairie des Bibliophiles Parisiens-Une pelote de ficelle; Juanita; La Jolie secrétaire; “Deux sur Dix”, orné d’aquarelles. – Martin Van Maele – Paris 1905.

Update and a confession, 29/10/24. Due to editorial incompetence and impending senility, I Steve M, confess to having missed an image to be inserted into this listing, I didn’t miss it in the original imaging exercise, but in the edit, to upload and insert the images in the post, I had arrogantly assumed that my final draft was correct, but when I reviewed an earlier draft I discovered the missing image ( now here below) as the second illustrated image, in its first unaligned state. Fixed now and this book does indeed have the full fifteen illustrations as per the description ( now received) from Ezra at Ivan Stormgart Books, ( more of this later). As its just before 00:60 here, and sadly my most lucid time of day, I shall update this post now, and celebrate it as a success, before I find another way to mess things up.

A very rare and beautiful, clandestine, Carrington and another of my book rescue projects, yet again I have to state, “You cannot judge a book by its cover”, because this book doesn’t have one, and in this case that presents a quandary.

This was published as a clandestine title  by, “Librairie des Bibliophiles Parisiens” and in the series “La Flagellation à Travers le Monde”.  So this book lacks a title page, which would have stated that information, and also, (most likely), would have been a lavish production, in two colours, with an identical paper outer cover over plain card boards.

What I have in hand,  is a plain spine and back cover, and the first page is the half title ” Une Pelote de ficelle”.  The first of the four short stories that make up this book.

At a guess I am missing the front cover (plain or otherwise) ; one or two blank pages; a half title , limitation on verso; possibly, a frontispiece; and a title page ( more about the possibility of a missing illustration below);

It is also possible that it could have had a clandestine printed paper cover with misleading information about author; publisher; place and date, etc.

Carrington often did this, and I do have a number of other titles in my collection that feature this deception.

Oddly despite having  clandestine covers,  many of these Carrington’s are packed with his self aggrandisement, and masses of lavish adverts for his other books.

None of that, at all in this book. I think this is the first completely anonymous Carrington I have ever seen!

Clandestine copies are hard enough to deal with, without removing all the identifying features, but it does elevate my interest and keep me amused.

Well in true Holmesian fashion, what can we deduce from the above information? First of all,  someone has seen this book because we have an author,  publisher, series and date.

Then we have brief bibliographic information, courtesy of, Sheryl Straight at The Erotica Bibliophile, who offers,  good in depth links, to Van Maele and Carrington,

That then leads us to ask where the origin of that information stems from? Is it another bibliographer that has not seen a copy of the book, and just copied it forward from another source.?

Well only further investigation will bring us to an elementary conclusion.

There are some minimal references to a “Druot” auction but as far as I can ascertain this states that, 14 signed watercolors were present in the auction copy.

There is a note that I must hunt down. That references 15 illustration, but this is possibly from a 1990’s book catalogue, I do have a contact, in that book dealership, so hopefully they might have an archive copy of the catalogue:-
And they did

VOLEES DE BOIS VERT. Une Pelote de Ficelle. – Juanita. – La Jolie secretaire. – Deux sur Dix. Ouvrage orne d’aquarelles.

Paris: Librairie des Bibliophiles Parisiens [Charles Carrington], 1905.

8vo. pp. [iv]+181+[ii]. Fifteen watercolour illustrations, more galante than indecent, and attractive art-nouveau initials. No. 43 of 500 copies. The imprint is partially obscured by the sticker of Collection Precieux, of 73 faubourg Poissonniere, Paris, presumably a bookseller. One of Carrington’s many semi-erotic cover items involving flagellation.

Rebound in plain blue buckram. Binding a little worn at the extremities, but internally clean and sound.

 

So to analyse this, first I must rather churlishly, point out  that the pagination definitely ends at 182, a evidenced by the last watercolour, in this listing which is numbered 182. as for the [iv], preceding the numbered main text block, we shall consider our options, after we quickly resolve the [ii], at the end of the book which are already accounted for as,Table des Matiers ,with printer detail on verso.

So back to the front [iv] which if we dismiss the outer paper wraps, which undoubtedly did exist,  our description  above states that the book is rebound, so not in a publisher’s binding., meaning it was initially released, in French wraps, over plain card covers, which we have evidence of with our book. However the description mentions a book shop sticker, partially obscuring the imprint which would be Paris: Librairie des Bibliophiles Parisiens [Charles Carrington], 1905.

Nether an external wrap or the card covers would be considered for  page count.  Just as the card cover at the back of the  book is not part of the page count.

So we know it have  the essential information that identifies the edition, but the description does not mention “original covers” preserved or  ” bound in”, which it almost certainly would  reference, if they were present or even partially present, this is a book dealers catalogue, and a very experienced one, he is unlikely to have missed such a significant selling point. And in any case original covers do not tally in a page count either.

So it begins to become clear , that the title page is the one that identifies the Imprint, that has the sticker on it. Not unusual as many bookshops in France used to brand both the cover and  title page, which were often twins in appearance. I guess the rationale for this was to discourage thefts, its easy to remove an outer cover which is effectively a light weight envelope, deigned to be disposable or bound in when its wealthy owner puts a luxury binding on it.

So we a re left with two sides of paper and we know now that there was no frontispiece, we know it had a limitation so that accounts for two of our [iv], I favour a half title, which appear in pretty much all Carrington publications prior to the title page, often with a blank verso which faces the tile page. so we have our [iv],

The ,half title, and the title page, with limitation on verso of either one and potentially a blank verso on the other.

So i deduce we are only looking for two sheets of paper

Possibly ripped off by some thief, now we move on to the real detective work “Find the missing pages”; No my dear Watson, said Holmes removing the still bloody syringe from his arm. ” Find the thief!”….

I’ll settle for some kind individual saying they have a copy and telling me what the blue blazes is on the front two pages.

Elementary my dear reader!

Well if I have failed to bore you to death, by which outcome, I shall be extremely disappointed. I must now consider “Dutel” or even “Guacamole” either of which are likely to drive my fragile mind to a state of utter confusion and possible suicidal thinking. Wish me luck.

Damn,  I’ve forgotten something? ………… Ah yes! The Book. Here it is—-:-

Half Title- Un Pelote de ficelle

Jean de Villiot: Volées de bois vert – Librairie des Bibliophiles Parisiens-Une pelote de ficelle; Juanita; La Jolie secrétaire; “Deux sur Dix”, orné d’aquarelles. – Martin Van Maele – Paris 1905.

From the series La Flagellation à Travers le Monde.(21.5 x 14 cm). 182 pp. 14 signed watercolors hors-texte by Van Maele, signed with his monogram. Printed by Veuve Félix Guy à Alençon,  in a limited edition of 500 copies. Printed on paper watermarked Rives.

(Hotel Drouot: Importante Bibliothèque d’Ouvrages Érotiques, 1987, lot 256. Private collection)

This Book

Jean de Villot : Volées de bois vert:  4 short erotic stories on the theme of flagellation; Une pelote de ficelle; Juanita; La Jolie secrétaire and Deux sur Dix, the title of the  book is printed atop each second facing page, with the title of each short story printed atop the opposite page.

On this basis the pagination would commence with the half title: – “Une Pelote de ficelle” (above) as 1; blank verso at 2; Followed by watercolour page, (listed below), to page 40;  Then “Jaunita” page 40-95″; La Jolie secrétaire” page 96-156 ;  “Deux sur Dix” page 157-182; followed by Table des Matiers ,with printer detail on verso.

All the watercolours are signed with Van Maele’s Motif.

See Also

From The Erotic Bibliophile:-

Checklist of Martin Van Maele’s Erotic Works

Charles Carrington Bibliography by Title

On this site:-

Charles Carrington Collection: Catalogue de Levres Rare. Librairie Ch.Carrington 13 Faubourg Montmartre Paris n.d |(1901).

 

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

AND Of Course if anyone has a good image of the original cover, title page or any illustration that might be missing from this listing  image please complete a contact form

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The Charles Carrington Collection: The Perfumed Garden, For the soul’s Delectation, Translated from the Arabic of THE SHAYKH NAFZAWI (XV Saec.).The First of Three Volumes.”This is no baby’s book.” (Sir R. F. Burton.)PARIS and BENARES THE KAMASHASTRA SOCIETY 1907.PRIVATELY ISSUED:

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This post is the first attempt to record in full,  two editions by Carrington. Clandestine and Unpublished. The background information to this originates with Sheryl Perry. The Erotica Bibliophile. Links to her bibliographical information are at the base of this post.

My Thanks to Sheryl Perry for permission to use her descriptions that feature in this post. All images and physical descriptions, come from the books themselves, which are in my possession, Inherited from my friend and fellow bibliomaniac, Michael Neale.

It must be noted that Carrington spends over 100 pages, complaining about the poor quality of everyone else’s edition of this title, compared to his; from poor translations to bad quality paper and print, he expands into referencing his publication  of “The Old Man Young Again”, which apparently had not been a popular title,  sales wise, so he links it to the “Perfumed Garden on the basis of its study of  aphrodisiacs . (Sales Pitch).

He further rants about the unfairness of piracies and goes so far as to set up a society to punish the transgressors. He does this sort of thing all the time. But he did produce some beautiful books.

Original Wraps, with the full title, but stating publisher to be:-

Librairie de L’Edition ,4 Rue de Furstenberg Paris, 1907

When Carrington moved back to France in 1912 he took up shop at 11 rue de Châteaudun but financially his days of publishing were coming quickly to an end. In a 1913 reply to a letter from Lawrence Forster in Canada on the feasibility of producing a bibliography of English erotica post-Ashbee, Carrington indicates he is very poor “I am now practically done for and in fact have not enough money to bring out the second part of the Perfumed Garden nor other translations from the Arabic, the French and the Latin that I have all ready to issue.” Somehow, though, he was able to keep his bookshop open and he did publish a small number of books up until his death. Interestingly, between 1912 and 1914 he published four books using his real name, Paul Ferdinando, on the imprint; the only time in his career he had ever done so.

 

The Perfumed Garden, For the soul’s Delectation, Translated from the Arabic of THE SHAYKH NAFZAWI (XV Saec.).The First of Three Volumes. “This is no baby’s book.” (Sir R. F. Burton.)PARIS and BENARES THE KAMASHASTRA SOCIETY 1907.PRIVATELY ISSUED: 4to. 281pp. Title page in red and black. Printed by Veuve Félix Guy et Cie in a limited edition of 1000 copies on laid, deckle-edged paper. Title and headings in red throughout. In original Publishers paper wraps, printed in red and black, (cover and spine) over plain card covers.

To follow a post on  SCENTED GARDEN MAN’S HEART TO GLADDEN an unpublished Carrington, from the Michael Neale collection;

Please see links to The Erotica Bibliophile

Erotica Bibliophile about Carrington

 

Erotica Bibliophile Carrington Search

 

The Charles Carrington Collection: (Jean de Villiot) Eaux-fortes pour l’illustration de Étude sur la Flagellation en France & en Angleterre au point de vue médical et historique. Paris, Charles Carrington, 1898.

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This extremely rare and beautiful complete set of illustrations, were something of a challenge. Originally I though they referred to a specific title which I couldn’t locate, because of the 1898 date, however research took me to the only titles ” Etude sur la “Flagellation”, and as the 1901 edition is fully and splendidly illustrated these must belong to the unillustrated 1899 edition. I have both editions, but cannot locate any reference to these illustrations in the actual books. So I assume that Guacamole who was wrong about the number of engravings, appears to be correct in saying they were only offered to subscribers who purchased the book:-

ÉTUDE SUR LA FLAGELLATION A TRAVERS LE MONDE
Aux points de vue historique, médical, religieux, domestique et conjugal, avec un exposé documentaire de la flagellation dans les écoles anglaises et les prisons militaires. Paris: Charles Carrington, 1899. 15.24cm. x 23.50cm. xii + 509pp. Printed by Bouillant in a limited edition of 575 copies of which 25 are on Japon, 50 are on Whatman and 500 are on Hollande [copy seen]. Chapter and tail pieces.

The Portfolio

Pasted in Title Panel

CARRINGTON – (Jean de Villiot)
Eaux-fortes pour l’illustration de Étude sur la Flagellation en France & en Angleterre au point de vue médical et historique. Paris, Charles Carrington, 1898. 28.5 x 19.5 cm. Original plain portfolio – on the inside a leaf has been pasted with title and index with the titles of the seven etchings. An inner envelope contains 7 illustrations in four states, (28 in all), etching-engravings on loose sheets of handmade paper, uncut. Portfolio a bit worn, ties gone, envelope browned, but etchings in excellent condition. First Edition. These seven illustrations , according to the printed leaf, were only for sale for those who had bought Étude sur la flagellation. A second leaf pasted at the inside of the envelope advertises the Carrington title Sophie Arnould. Mentioned (but probably not seen) by Pia on col. 429.

According to Guacamole (Charles Carrington (1867-1921). Bibliographie eines Verlags. Berlin, 2005), this publication (nr. 236 in his list) should comprise the 7 illustrations in three states. But he was wrong:-

Guacamole Reference

The engravings

La fustigation de Théroigne de Méricourt

Engraving 1st State

Engraving 2nd State

Engraving 3rd state

Engraving final state

 

La Marquise de Rozen et Madame du Barry

Engraving 1st state

 

Engraving 2nd state

 

Engraving 3rd state

Engraving final state

 

Flagellation de la Dame de Liancour

Engraving 1st state

 

Engraving 2nd state

 

Engraving 3rd state

 

Engraving final state

 

Le Chevalier de Boufflers fouetté par ordre d’une noble Dame

Engraving 1st state

 

Engraving 2nd state

 

Engraving 3rd state

 

Engraving final state

 

Vengeance du Chevalier (Poéme: << Les Représailles >>)

Engraving 1st state

 

Engraving 2nd state

 

Engraving 3rd state

 

Engraving final state

 

Une Verge pour l’autre (tiré des Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles)

Engraving 1st state

 

Engraving 2nd state

 

Engraving 3rd state

 

Engraving final state

 

Scéne de Pénitence Religieuse

Engraving 1st state

 

Engraving 2nd state

 

Engraving 3rd state

 

Engraving final state

 

Would anyone using these images for their own site please have the decency to credit this site

See also

Charles Carrington Collection: Weird Women; The Crimson Curtain; Happiness  in Crime; A Dinner of Atheists; A Woman’s Vengeance. Translated from the French  of  Barbey d’Aurevilly.  London. MCM. (1900)

 

Books for Trade: Jean de Villiot: Parisienne et Peux-Rouges, La Flagellation à Travers le Monde. 20 compositions symboliques de Henri Caruchet. Paris: Charles Carrington, 1904.

Pasted in advertisement

Charles Carrington Collection: STORIES FROM THE FOLK-LORE OF RUSSIA.[ALEKSANDER N. AFANASYEV] Done into English by the translator of The book of exposition in the science of coition, The old man young again, and other charming works ejusdem farinae. Paris: Charles Carrington,1897

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This Book

Another Carrington from the Michael Neal collection, and a marginal one for this site, as it is bawdy rather than erotic, but a marvellous volume nonetheless. It has the distinction of being in English and being profusely illustrated, Carrington’s published in English often have old plates or engravings, but unlike French editions, rarely have commissioned illustrations, this one is an exception. Like many other Carrington publications it is very hard to find. It also has the distinction of possessing my favourite Cover/Title Page and an outstanding frontispiece.

Bibliographical reference courtesy of Sheryl Straight.

https://www.eroticabibliophile.com/publishers_carrington_m_o.php

I must take issue with the bibliographic description as far as the illustrators are concerned, the frontispiece and 6 colour wash illustration are by J.Wely, the majority of the in text illustrations and other page illustrations are signed or initialled by J.Wely and G.D (Georges Dola), a few of the illustrations are unsigned, but I cannot recognise them as Bayros, perhaps someone out there can put me straight on this. The book is complete and there are no missing pages.

Title Page

STORIES FROM THE FOLK-LORE OF RUSSIA [ALEKSANDER N. AFANASYEV]. Done into English by the translator of The book of exposition in the science of coition, The old man young again, and other charming works ejusdem farinae. Paris: Charles Carrington, 1897.13.97cm. x 21.59cm. xix + 265pp. Limited edition of 500 copies on Van Gelder. Frontispiece done in green, peach and black by J. Wely. 10 plates by Franz von Bayros + 6 plates by J. Wely.

Originally published in Geneva, c.1872 as Russikya zavetniya skazki (Russian Secret Tales) by Aleksandr N. Afanasyev. This was a supplement to Afanasyev’s Narodnye russkie skazki (Popular Russian Tales), 1855-1864. In 1883 a group of folklorists published a yearbook of erotic folklore titled Kryptádia (Secret Things), the first volume being a French translation of Afanasyev’s Russikya zavetniya skazki. Isidore Liseux also translated Afanasyev’s text into French in 1891. That edition being the text Carrington used to translate this present work into English [See Legman: The Horn Book, p.475-476].

(Kinsey: 890.37 A25 r9E 1897. British Library: Cup.804.bb.24. Bibliothèque Nationale: RES P-Y2-733)

Front Cover

Back Cover

Frontispiece

Sample Text

Unsigned 1

G. Dola 1

J Wely

Unsigned 2

G.D

G.D.

G.D

Plate 1

J.Wely

G.D

Unsigned 3

Plate 3

G.D

Unsigned 4

G.D

Unsigned 5

G.D

Unsigned 6

G.D

Plate3

G.D

Unsigned 7

G.D

Unsigned 8

G.D

Unsigned 9

Unsigned 10

Unsigned 11

Plate 4

G.D

Unsigned 12

G.D

Unsigned 13

G.D

Plate 5

G.D

G.D

J.Wely

G.D

Plate 6

J.Wely

G.D

Unsigned 13

Limitation

See Also

Charles Carrington Collection: Octave Mirbeau The Diary of a Lady&#8217;s Maid . Paris: Charles Carrington, 1903. illustrations by Emile Mas, engraved by Eugène Dété.

Charles Carrington Collection: Weird Women; The Crimson Curtain; Happiness  in Crime; A Dinner of Atheists; A Woman&#8217;sVengeance. Translated from the French  of  Barbey d&#8217;Aurevilly.  With Eight Wood Engravings.  London.  Privately Printed. For the Lutetian Bibliophiles&#8217; Society, (Charles Carrington).  MCM. (1900)

 

 

 

Charles Carrington Collection: Jean de Villiot: La Maison de la Verveine, Illustrations de MARTIN VAN MAELE et EMILE MAS, PARIS, LIBRAIRIE DES BIBLIOPHILES PARISIENS,1904.

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This Book

Another Carrington, this one clandestine under his Librarie des Bibliophiles imprint. Altogether a lavish production with red borders to each page and profusely illustrated.

Bibliographical information courtesy of Sheryl Straight.

https://www.eroticabibliophile.com/publishers_carrington_m_o.php

Title Page

Cover

Back

Illustrated header

Section End Decoration

First Part

Van Maele 1

Van Maele 2

Van Maele 3

Van Maele 4

Van Maele 5

 

Van Maele 6

Van Maele 7

Van Maele 8

Limitation

See Also

Charles Carrington Collection: Henryk Sienkiewicz, Pan Michael, Paris: Charles Carrington1904, Illustrated by Martin Van Maele.

Charles Carrington Collection: Weird Women; The Crimson Curtain; Happiness  in Crime; A Dinner of Atheists; A Woman&#8217;sVengeance. Translated from the French  of  Barbey d&#8217;Aurevilly.  With Eight Wood Engravings.  London.  Privately Printed. For the Lutetian Bibliophiles&#8217; Society, (Charles Carrington).  MCM. (1900)

 

Charles Carrington Collection:Thais | Translated from the French of Anatole France. LONDON , CHARLES CARRINGTON, 1901. Illustrations by Martin Van Maele.

/ Steve M. / 1 Comment

 

 

This Book

As a rolling tribute to my good friend Michael Neal, who sadly passed away on October 21st. I am continuing with my promise to catalogue all the Charles Carrington titles from our combined collections. This particular title is one from Michaels collection and a wonderful example of a working book that has been read and bears the signs of wear with pride. An absolute treat to handle, great size and weight, printed on heavy hand made Van Gelder paper, beautiful print job and fabulous Van Maele illustrations, always at his best when there is room for his marvellous monsters.

Thaïs is a novel by French writer Anatole France, published in 1890 and considered one of his best works. It is based on events in the life of Saint Thaïs of Egypt, a legendary convert to Christianity who is said to have lived in the 4th century. In the story, Paphnuce, an ascetic hermit of the Egyptian desert, journeys to Alexandria to find Thais, the libertine beauty whom he knew as a youth. Masquerading as a dandy, he is able to speak with her about eternity; surprisingly he succeeds in converting her to Christianity. Yet on their return to the desert he becomes fascinated with her former life. She enters a convent to repent of her sins. He cannot forget the pull of her famous beauty, and becomes confused about the values of life. Later, as she is dying and can only see heaven opening before her, he comes to her side and tells her that her faith is an illusion, and that he loves her.

Anatole France (François-Anatole Thibault 1844-1924) was a French poet, journalist, and novelist. He was a successful novelist, with several best-sellers. Ironic and sceptical, he was considered in his day the ideal French man of letters. He was a member of the Académie Française, and won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Literature “in recognition of his brilliant literary achievements, characterized as they are by a nobility of style, a profound human sympathy, grace, and a true Gallic temperament”. France is also widely believed to be the model for narrator Marcel’s literary idol Bergotte in Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time.

 

Title Page and Frontis.

THAIS | TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH | OF | ANATOLE FRANCE | [quotation] | LONDON | CHARLES CARRINGTON | 1901 | All rights reserved
8vo. 304pp. Limited edition of 500 copies on hand-made paper watermarked Van Gelder. Frontispiece + 20 engravings by Martin van Maele done in shades of black and brown; with tissue guards. 6″x9″, x+304pp, hardbound, blue moire silk boards with blind stamped borders, gilt titles on spine, deckled edges, Van Gelder hand-made paper, beautiful tipped-in illustrations protected by tissue guard and printed in combination of black & brown ink, good condition, bumping to corners, some sunning to spine, slight foxing to prelims, interior pages clean.

(Kinsey: 843.7 F815 t3E 1901. The Satyrical Drawings of Martin van Maele; Cythera Press, 1970. Private collection.)Description
Thais, Anatole France, trans. Robert B. Douglas, illus. by Martin van Maële (Charles Carrington, London, 1901 [first English translation, first edition, limited edition, one of 500])

The First English translation of France’s adaptation of the Golden Legend tale. Originally published in Paris by Calmann-Lévy, 1890; and again by Romagnol in 1900, with illustrations by Lauren, in a limited edition of 300 copies [Forbidden Books, p.29]. Anatole France is a pseudonym used by Jacques Anatole Thibault.

Frontispiece

Sample Text

Sample Text

Facing Page 6

Facing Page 24

Facing Page 44

Facing Page 58

Sample Text

Facing Page 94

Facing Page 98

Facing Page 110

Facing Page 128

Facing Page 142

Facing Page 162

Facing Page 178

Facing Page 196

Facing Page 206

Facing Page 214

Sample Text

Facing Page 230

Facing Page 238

Facing Page 268

Facing Page 282

Facing Page 292

Facing Page 304

Charles Carrington Bookshop label

See Also

Charles Carrington Collection: Henryk Sienkiewicz, Pan Michael, Paris: Charles Carrington1904, Illustrated by Martin Van Maele.

Books for Trade: Anon (Gustav Droz), Un été à la Campagne, A Mitylene n.p (Paris) n.d (1920) (Briffaut). Illustrations by Van Troizem ( Van Maele )

Charles Carrington Collection: An English Doctor: How Women are Flogged in  Russian Prisons, Librairie des Bibliophiles, 1899

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This Book

This one is for the bibliophiles, no illustrations! A very rare item,  effectively a pornographic novelette, written in letter form, a salacious account of an alleged visit by an English doctor to a convent prison  in Siberia, where he witnesses and records the most severe of tortures and punishments to  the female inmates, by which he finds himself extremely aroused, and following his departure from said institution seeks to re-enact his experience by employing prostitutes versed in the fetishist  arts. Strong stuff not for the faint hearted. And yes it is in English, a French version was published in a compendium of flagellation material also by Carrington but minus the sexual content.

Title Page

Curious Sidelights of Social History: How  Women are Flogged  in  Russian Prisons, Narrative of a Visit to a Convent Prison in Siberia, by an English  Doctor. Paris, Librairie des Bibliophiles, 13 Faubourg Montmarte,1899. In original publishers paper wraps, printed in red and black on a salmon pink paper, over plain card covers. List of English Publications printed on back cover, interestingly this is clearly over-stamped “12 Jan 1903”, Title page duplicates the cover and is also printed in red  and black. Contents. 12.07cm. x 19.69cm. xvii + 48pp. Printed on laid paper. Condition, Under a protective opaque sleeve, the book is complete, but shaken, stitching visible, in paper wrap, some light foxing to front cover and spine, Very Good.

This title is from the Michael Neal Collection

Front Cover

Statement

Sample text

sample text

Back Cover

The date stamp, obviously a later addition at the top of the back cover is possibly another indication that the books were stored in sheets and wrappers added when a copy was ordered, thus explaining some confusion caused to bibliographers, when advertisements for titles often list books, printed years after  the publication of the book under scrutiny.

Bibliographical Note Guacamole P77 (110)

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Eroticabibliophile Carrington

 

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How  Women are Flogged  Flogged in  Russian Prisons
Narrative of a visit to a convent prison in Siberia by an English doctor. Paris: Libraire des Bibliophiles, 1899.
12.07cm. x 19.69cm. xvii + 48pp. Printed on laid paper. Title page printed in red and black.

A note in the Kinsey copy states: “More erotic than the French version in Villiot’s Curiosities et Anecdotes de flagellation”.

Charles Carrington Collection: Jean du Villiot (trans): La Flagellation Des Femmes en Allemagne. illustrations par Martin van Maele, Paris Charles Carrington, 1901.

/ Steve M. / 2 Comments

This Book

Here we are again, back to the strange and complex world of the books published by Charles Carrington, (not his real name), under, in this case his most common imprint, being his company name. Nothing is quite as it seems with these books and if you attempt to follow future listings you will gradually become just as confused about it all as I am. For the moment lets just focus on this one title, except, it isn’t just one title. Confused? Brilliant, let us proceed.

Originally published in German, Written by W. Reinhard.  Lenchen im Zuchthause in c. 1848. Though claiming to be a direct translation of the German Edition, it appears that this the first, French language edition, was actually translated from the First English language edition, published clandestinely by Charles Carrington entitled Nell in Bridewell, in 1900 under his Society of British Bibliophiles imprint.

It is worthy of note that there is often significant variation in content, between French and English translations of Carrington books (in all imprints), A clandestine imprint usually indicating  greater sexual (pornographic) content, although at times the same device was used to hide the publisher from, outraged authors and fellow clandestine publishers when he had nicked their books without consent or in breach of copyright.

Nobody gave a toss about the flagellation stuff, and it was generally, neither censored, nor proscribed. Although this rule, like all good rules, does have exceptions

Brilliant!

As with other listings in this collection, I will distinguish between the actual book (This Book), and the bibliographical description, which describes how the book should have looked when it was made, Even this is subjective as very few bibliographical descriptions are completed “Book in Hand”. Mine are!

Title Page

Jean du Villiot (trans): La Flagellation Des Femmes en Allemagne. illustrations par Martin van Maele, Paris Charles Carrington, 1901. Rebound in red patterned cloth, over brown leather boards, spine in brown leather with title embossed, in red and black text and Publisher and date in black. Original (remains of) paper cover (front and back) pasted in. (original paper spine not retained), Number 309/500, on papier de Hollande. 236 rough cut pages. No printer referenced in this copy. Dimensions including binding (24 x 15.5 x 4.5 cm, weight 1 kg) Frontispiece and 19, duotone full page illustrations, signed (motif),by Martin Van Maele, each with its own tissue guard, (with textual description, and the number of the facing page printed in red). With 8 additional illustrations in text, by G.Dola and J. Wely.

Complete and in Very Good condition. From the Michael Neal Collection his note. Villiot – La Flagellation des femmes en allemagne 1901from the Leonardt collection lux binding slipcase.

NOTE: The following bibliographical description is in error,  the 20 illustrations by Van Maele, includes the frontispiece.

Bibliographical Description

LA FLAGELLATION | DES FEMMES [red] | EN ALLEMAGNE | Récit authentique d’une Prisonnière [red] | TRADUIT DE L’ALLEMAND DE | W. REINHARD | PAR | JEAN DU VILLIOT [red] | Vingt illustrations par MARTIN VAN MAELE | [vignette] | PARIS | CHARLES CARRINGTON [red] | 13, FAUBOURG MONTMARTRE, 13 | [short rule] | 1901 (13.97 x 22.86 cm). xi + 356 pp. Frontispiece + 20 engravings in red and black (with tissue guards), signed with Van Maele’s monogram. The in-text illustrations are by J.W. [J. Wely?] and G.D. [G. Dola?]. Printed by A.– G. Lemale [from a note in the copy at Kinsey] in a limited edition of 500 copies on Holland. First published as Lenchen im Zuchthause in c. 1848. This present edition is a French translation of Nell in Bridewell, published by Carrington   in 1900 under his Society of British Bibliophiles imprint. (Kinsey: 833.7 R369 l5F 190. Leonhardt: lot 419. Private

Perry, S. A.. Martin Van Maele: An Illustrated Bibliographical Checklist (Kindle Locations 290-297).  . Kindle Edition.

Spine

Pasted in Cover

Limitation Page

The Illustrations

Frontispiece

Facing Page 20

Facing Page 22

Facing Page 28

Page 55

Facing Page 67

Facing Page 81

Facing Page 88

Page 100

Facing Page 105

Facing Page 114

Facing Page 120

Facing Page 126

Page 131

Facing Page 135

Page 162

Facing Page 173

Page 191

Tissue Guard Sample

Facing Page 201

Facing Page 208

Facing Page 224

Facing Page 228

Page 232

facing Page 238

Page 251

Facing Page 268

Page 338

Pasted in Back Cover

See Also

Who is the Artist? Illustrations from Nell in Bridewell (Lenchen im Zuchthause) | (Society of British Bibliophiles, Paris, 1900,

Books for Trade: Anon (Gustav Droz), Un été à la Campagne, A Mitylene n.p (Paris) n.d (1920) (Briffaut). Illustrations by Van Troizem ( Van Maele )

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Charles Carrington Collection: Henryk Sienkiewicz, Pan Michael, Paris: Charles Carrington1904, Illustrated by Martin Van Maele.

/ Steve M. / 1 Comment

This is the first, in what promises to be a very large collection of titles published by Charles Carrington, either openly or under one of his clandestine imprints, many of the titles originate from the Michael Neal collection, which provides some very interesting, rare and obscure titles, others have come from various sources and have been in my possession for varying amounts of time, some I have listed previously on this site and are no longer in my possession, but as the nature of the site is to catalogue and preserve images of actual books, I am able to link them retrospectively and avoid the expense of having to purchase them again. More of this another time.

I have chosen, for no other reason, than a Van Maele connection, to list “Pan Michael”, as the first title in this new collection, and in doing so I have stumbled upon a bibliographical mystery, as I cannot locate another 1904 edition, and  as I cannot find a listed copy of the 1902 Carrington edition that has the Van Maele illustrations. I can only assume the the illustrations were designed specifically for the 1904 edition and there were never any in the 1902 edition.

There are various earlier editions of this title in English, French and Polish. I am not clear why Carrington chose to publish this title, as despite his forays into, pseudo-scientific and medical publications, as well as folk lore, the underlying theme to both openly published and clandestine imprints is sex, including a large selection of books on the flagellation theme, even with the books by Anatole France there is a gothic/demonic content with a very erotic and sensual imagery, both textual and especially in the Van Maele illustrations, I just cannot make this title fit into any of Carringtons traditional genres. Unsure if anyone can answer this question, but a always any suggestions or contributions to enhance the listing are always welcome

 

 The description provided by S.A. Perry, in her Martin Van Maele bibliography. references in detail the 1904 edition. My copy does not have the original covers which explains why I have 10 illustrations, the “onze” (eleven), referenced on the title page, included the illustrated, cover. Still 10 is better than none, and this leaves the door open for some generous donor to provide an image of the  cover, to complete the listing.

As will be the norm, my description is titled “This Book” and describes the copy I have in hand “warts and all”, this will be followed by a full bibliographical description (where there is one), which describes the book as it was (allegedly) when it was produced. A note of caution is, that many bibliographers have never seen the actual book, and their descriptions, are often the result of using earlier bibliographers descriptions, or from research on-line or in National, or University  collections. In the worst case scenario descriptions are from publishers catalogues, which in the case of Carrington, and similar publishers, are largely fabricated, and with false information as to the limitation numbers, the various luxury editions and the cost of such items. This goes with the territory of publishing erotica in whatever form, and such activity in this area is still happening today, with false provenance of newly discovered works and mysterious unknown artists, suddenly appearing on the market.

It must be said of Carrington, that whatever false claims he made, he did produce an astonishing number of incredibly beautiful books, sadly the only way you can experience the reality of such an object is to hold it in your hands, to take in the exotic scent of an old book, to feel the quality of the paper and weight and physical presence of the object, which is in itself a work of art, that cannot be reproduced today. And that is without even thinking about the illustrations, which lose their essence when paint shopped to make clean electronic copies.

THIS BOOK

 Title Page

Rebound in blue marbled boards, with green cloth spine, title, author, motif in gilt, with 3 sets of gilt parallel lines. ( see image at head of this listing). Lacking original paper covers, endpapers and any reference as to limitation. Commences with title page. 638 pages, dimensions (with binding 18 x 13 x 4 cm), weight 700 gr.  Contents complete with 10 full page plates from engravings, single sided on slightly heavier paper than the text, presumably tipped in, but attached in sequence to the page of relevant text. Each image indexed and with textual description, and signed with Van Maele’s motif signature. Overall condition good, with general marking and wear appropriate to a book of this age which has been in circulation. as mentioned above the title page indicates “Onze” (eleven) illustrations, this includes the illustrated cover which is absent from this book. Rare Title. Not for sale.

Cover

Sample text

Full Bibliographical Description.

Pan Michaël HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ | [short rule] | Pan Michaël | (MESSIRE VOLODVOVSKI) | TRADUIT PAR CHARLES GROLLEAU | [short rule] | Puisque saint Michael conduit toute | l’armée des Cieux et a gagné tant de | victoires sur les légions infernales, | je le choisis pour patron. | (Le Déluge.) | NOUVELLE ÉDITION | Onze dessins de Martin VAN MAELE | [short rule] | PARIS | CHARLES CARRINGTON, LIBRAIRE-EDITEUR | 13, FAUBOURG MONTMARTRE, 13 | [short rule] | 1904
In-12. (13 x 19 cm). 638 pp. 10 captioned hors-texte drawings in black signed with Van Maele’s monogram. Illustrated front cover (title in red) signed Martin + his monogram. Printed by E. Arrault   et Cie. Hors-texte: 37, 65, 95, 223, 271, 349, 391, 445, 481, 536 From a 1904 Carrington catalogue published in the back of Le Pantalon Féminin, 1906: « Nouvelle édition de dix dessins hors texte, par Martin van Maele, et d’une couverture illustrée par le même. Un fort volume in-18 jésus de 600 pages. 50 exemplaires sur Hollande, 15 sur Chine. » (Bibliothèque Nationale: 8-Y2-53302. Private collection)

Perry, S. A.. Martin Van Maele: An Illustrated Bibliographical Checklist (Kindle Locations 538-543). . Kindle Edition.

The Illustrations

 

 

See Also

Books for Trade: Octave Mirbeau The Diary of a Lady&#8217;s Maid . Paris: Charles Carrington, 1903. illustrations by Emile Mas, engraved by Eugène Dété.

Books for Trade: Charles Sackville: Mr Howard Goes Yachting: London -Paris, Printed for Subscribers Only MCMVIII. (Carrington)

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Charles Carrington Collection: Octave Mirbeau The Diary of a Lady’s Maid . Paris: Charles Carrington, 1903. illustrations by Emile Mas, engraved by Eugène Dété.

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Another Carrington title that doesn’t, qualify as erotica in the strictest sense, it is however, a  great rarity and particularly interesting in its  association context.

This Book is from the Michael Neal Collection

Octave Mirbeau (16 February 1848 – 16 February 1917) was a French novelist, art critic, travel writer, pamphleteer, journalist, and playwright, who achieved celebrity in Europe and great success among the public, while still appealing to the literary and artistic avant-garde with highly transgressive novels that explored violence, abuse and psychological detachment. His work has been translated into thirty languages.

His two most noted novels are,  ” Le Jardin des supplices” (Torture Garden (1899) and “Le Journal d’une femme de chambre” (Diary of a Chambermaid) (1900), the present volume is the first English translation of  Le Journal d’une femme de chambre, published by Charles Carrington in 1903 entitled “The Diary of a Lady’s Maid”.

For further information

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diary_of_a_Chambermaid_(novel)

Octave Mirbeau The Diary of a Lady’s Maid . Paris: Charles Carrington, 1903.
12 illustrations by Emile Mas, engraved by Eugène Dété. Rebound in publishers boards,original covers preserved. 20cm. viii + 504pp. Printed on fine paper. decorated with numerous chapter heading and endings, and capitals, From the library of Gershon Legman with a dedication signed by Charles Carrington to the engraver Eugène Dété.

cover

 

Dedication Charles Carrington.

Ownership Gershon Legman

Sample Text