A rather beautiful and rare clandestine title, very little research material on this one, and the only other copy that I can locate is one for sale elsewhere, in which the description is a mass of confusing detail, leaving unclear which part of the small limitation the book in question belongs to, however from that listing it appears that the sanguine illustrations are without the so called artists remarks, therefore it is not in the smaller limitations and therefore must be, a copy from the general run. A detail of the limitation page would have clarified this matter. Dutel lists it at No. 1441, in his “Bibliographie des ouvrages érotiques publiés clandestinement en français entre 1920 et 1970”. No credit as to artist or publisher.
THIS BOOK:
Title Page
LA DUCHESSE OU LA FEMME SYLPHIDE
RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE, Nicolas Edme (RETIF DE LA BRETONNE).
Edité par Aux dépens de quelques bibliophiles, s.d. (1948).
Rebound in luxury boards, in red leather over marbled boards, author, title and erotic motif in gilt on spine, binding is stamped (signed) in gilt “N. Corréaud”. The original covers are bound in. 122 +2 pages, + 4 plates refused for the the edition, + limitation page. (23.5 x 28.5 in binding) This copy being number 38 in the limitation 21-50, containing 20 colour illustration (one of these in text) and 24 in sanguine including the 4 refused, all of which bear the artists remarque, a small illustration embellishing each of the sanguine plates. There is some rubbing to the binding at the front edge. some minor spotting at the endpapers, and light finger marking on illustration pages.
All the main illustration are in facing pairs each pair being one in sanguine and one in colour of the same scene. However listed here as individual, one above the other. The scans were achieved with a Czur overhead scanner which allows for open book scanning, with software that corrects curvature and separates facing pages, I would not be able to present the book without this device as it is too large for flatbed scanning.
LA DUCHESSE OU LA FEMME SYLPHIDE
RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE, Nicolas Edme (RETIF DE LA BRETONNE).
Edité par Aux dépens de quelques bibliophiles, s.d. (1948).
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Something of an oddity, but nevertheless an interesting edition of this title originally published in 1882(3), this 1923 clandestine edition, is accompanied by a suite of 16 illustrations specific to this edition by Nicolas Sternberg, and a selection of illustrations from earlier editions, 5 by Van Maele, from the Carrington edition of 1908, a frontispiece by Rops from the 1921 edition and 5 by Bayros, from a source I cannot identify. This book differs from other copies in that the illustrations are hand coloured. Altogether a rare and interesting edition of this erotica.
Title Page
SIRE DE CHAMBLEY (Edmond HARAUCOURT), La Légende des Sexes. Poèmes hystériques. Bruxelles, Pour l’auteur, (vers 1923). In-4, 143-(3) pp. et (27) planches libres, broché (manque de papier en tête du dos). Tirage limité à 380 exemplaires, ici un des 350 Hollande vergé (non justifié). Complet des 27 planches érotiques d’après Félicien Rops, Martin Van Maele, Nicolas Sternberg et Franz Von Bayros, dont 24 coloriées à la main et une dont le coloris n’est pas fini. * Dutel 1840.
This Book: In original publishers card covers printed in blue and black (28.5 x 19 cm)143-(3) pp. and (27) loose illustrations, paperback (lack of paper at the head of the spine). Draw limited to 380 copies, here one of the 350 Holland (unjustified). Complete with the 27 erotic plates after Félicien Rops(1), Martin Van Maele(5), Nicolas Sternberg(16) and Franz Von Bayros(5), including 24 hand-coloured and one whose colour is not finished. Dutel 1840.
Another clandestine publication, by Maurice Duflou, this a reissue of the original edition, of Gamiani. despite being referred to as mono, in the limitation the, illustrations do have some light colouration, another oddity is that all of the 12 facsimile illustrations have significant foxing which does not appear elsewhere in the text. I cannot explain this. This copy is enhanced with 2 extra illustrations , one in colour and the other in pencil and lightly hand coloured, with a signature that I cannot identify. As usual I have presented the illustrations in the order they appear in the book.
Bibliographical information is courtesy of Patrick Kearney.
MUSSET, Alfred de, supposed author. – Gamiani, ou Deux nuits d’excès, par A.D.M. Réimpression conforme au texte original ornée des douze gravures de Dévéria et Grévedon. Paris: Pour les Amis de l’époque romantique [1924]. 4to. pp. 86. Twelve plates ‘en héliogravure’ reproduced from the lithographs of the original 1833 edition. (29 x 23 cm) Limited to 320 copies, this being Number 69. Pages 5-18 contain a Notice bibliographique signed ‘Helpey’[Louis Perceau] and the Preface the 3rd. edition, Amsterdam, 1864, comprising an extract of the Mémoires de la comtesse de C*** [Elisabeth Céleste Venard,comtesse Lionel de Chabrillon] on the author of Gamiani, who is generally thought to have been Alfred de Musset. [Bibliothèque Nationale: Enfer 934.]
This Book: In original publishers covers, pagination as above, enhanced with 2 additional illustrations, the 12 facsimiles have significant spotting (see images), overall condition is good and the book is complete, effectively a book within a book, a very pleasing and rare edition of this classic erotica.
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.
This tiny book, is a bibliographic mystery, well at least it is to me, as I am unable to locate any reference to it. So as always in these cases I would very much appreciate any information that anyone can offer. The illustrations that accompany the book are delightful, and I guess them to be circa 1930. But that is all I have, a guess.
Title Page
Contes Libertins, par Grecourt, Nogaret,Vergier, Piron etc… n.p , n.d, Clandestine publication C 1930? In original publishers, anonymous card covers, title printed in black on front, No print or publication details, a clandestine publication. 120 numbered pages, (12.5 x 8 cm) with blanks for placement of tipped in, unsigned colour illustrations, which are contained in an opaque folder. Each of the eight illustrations is indexed with a title and page placement number. Overall condition of book is good, being rather crumpled and separating from cover at the centre of the book (but holding), the illustrations are in very good near fine condition.
Another rare Carrington, with Van Maele illustrations, this one a fairly recent acquisition, and yet another example of the quality of Carrington publications, therefore as much attention given to text and page decorations as the illustrations. This will have been a later rebind as the original covers are only partially preserved.
Title Page
Jean de Villiot, La Flagellation Amoureuse; DANS L’HISTOIRE DES MŒURS ET DANS LA LITTÉRATURE SUIVIE DE La Flagellation des Femmes EN FRANCE SOUS LA REVOLUTION ET LA TERREUR BLANCHE Cinq eaux-fortes de MARTIN VAN MAELE PARIS CHARLES CARRINGTON, LIBRAIRIE-EDITEUR 13, Faubourg Montmartre, 1904. 12.7cm. x 21.59cm. 240pp. Printed on laid paper by Veuve Félix Guy et Cie, 20th April 1904. Title page printed in orange and black. Head and tail pieces. Decorative first letter to each chapter. 5 full-page engravings (signed) by Martin van Maele with tissue guards .
This Book: Rebound in quarter black leather on cream textured boards, spine decorated with 4 gilt fluerons, 4 raised bands , lined in gilt, author and title stamped in gilt lettering. Original front and back covers, cropped and pasted on card inserts. Some light sporadic foxing but overall in very good condition.
Bit of a surprise this one, a clandestine Losfeld that I have never seen before, and completely anonymous, no text just illustrations, no research material, available.
Pat Kearney lists it thus :-
QU’EN PENSEZ-VOUS? n.p., n.d. [c.1958]. 8°. 16 ff.
Dutel 2284. An album of erotic illustrations used by Losfeld in his
other publications. – No repository copy found.
The reference to Dutel presumably says the same but in French.
Title Page
QU’EN PENSEZ-VOUS? n.p., n.d. [c.1958] (Losfeld). In original, publishers textured cream coloured card covers, title in purple on front cover, otherwise completely anonymous. (23 x 14.5 cm),blank ffep, half title, Title Page, blank verso, followed by 21 illustrations on 22 pages (inc 1 double page illustration) all printed in black on thick card. Absolutely no text or publication details.
