MERLIN The first issue of Merlin—initially subtitled A collection of Contemporary Writings was published in the Spring of 1952. It was edited by Alexander Trocchi, and published by his American girl friend Alice Jane Lougee. Five further issues under this editor/publisher combination would follow. The seventh and final issue was published by the Olympia Press, described in detail below.
2.7.1 MERLIN No. 7 [Vol.2, number 4, Spring/Summer 1955]
[On the left, at head of page in l.c. and large type:] merlin | [at left, below title and in small type:] revue trimestrielle | founded by Alice Jane Lougee | EDITORS [on the right, one name below the other:] Alexander Trocchi | Austryn Wainhouse | [on the left:] COMMITTEE [on the right, one name below the other:] PatrickBowles | W. Baird Bryant | Corneille | Robert Creeley | Ben Johnson | Richard Seaver | Shinkichi Tajiri | [on the left:] EDITORIAL ADDRESS [on the right:] The English Bookshop | 42, Rue de Seine, Paris-6e | [on the left:] PUBLISHER [on the right:] The Olympia Press | 8, Rue de Nesle, Paris-6e | [in centre of page:] contents | [in two columns, each line separated after the page number by a continuous vertical rule:] Michel de M‘Uzan 233 THREE TALES | Pablo Neruda 242 TWENTY LOVE POEMS | Austryn Wainhouse 259 SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN | ENGINEERING AND REFLEXIONS UPON | AN EROTIC BOOK | Jaap Mooy [no page numbers] FOUR ILLUMINATIONS | Cleveland Moffett 274 PHEIDIPPIDES | Alain Clément 281 FRANCE AS SEEN BY THE GERMANS | Lennart Olson [no page numbers] FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS | Alister Kershaw 298 ALDINGTON’S CRITICS | Christopher Logue 301 GRAHAM’S NIGHTFISHING | Richard Gibson 303 CURZIO MALAPARTE : | THE VISION OF DEFEAT | [below Contents, and centered on columns above:] line drawings by WILLIAM PARKER| spring 1955 summer | [at foot of page, left:] MERLIN IS PRINTED IN FRANCE [at foot of page, right:] vol. 2 no. [in large type] 4
Collation: 80 pp. No signatures, but [1-5]8, with the numeration of the pages following on from previous issues of the periodical. Two double leaves on coated photographic paper (comprising photographs by Jaap Mooy and Lennart Olson) are inserted between pp. 260,261 & 276,277 and between pp. 292,293 & following p. 308. 24 x 15.4 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper.
Contents: p. [229], untitled note signed The Editors. p. [230], two half-page advertisements, the upper for two novels published by Plon and the lower for the Paris Review. p. [231], title, as above. p. [232], three advertisements, one across the top of the page for James Broughton’s An Almanac for Amorists, and the other two, side-by-side below, for, on the right, Sartre’s revue mensuelle Les Temps modernes and, on the left, for The English Bookshop. pp. 233-241,
Three Tales by Michel de M’Uzan, translated by Philip Oxman. pp. 242-258, Twenty Love Poems by Pablo Neruda, translated by Patrick Bowles and Christopher Logue. pp. 259-273, Some Basic Principles Of Human Engineering And Reflexions Upon An Erotic Book by Austryn Wainhouse. pp. 274-280, Pheidippides by Cleveland Moffett. pp. 281-298, France as Seen by the Germans by Alain Clément. Clément’s piece is referred to at the head of p. 281 as Chronicles. pp. 298-308 are printed in two columns and a smaller typeface, and comprise three pieces described as Notes: Aldington‘s Critics by Alister Kershaw (pp. 298-301). Graham‘s Nightfishing by Christopher Logue (pp. 301-303). Curzio Malaparte: The Vision of Defeat by Richard Gibson (pp. 303-308). Drawings by William Parker appear on pp. 234, 243, 249, 258, 273, 274, & 280. Advertisements appear on pp. 299 (Les Editions de Minuit), 301 (Obelisk Press), 303 (Hedyphagetica, by Austryn Wainhouse), 304
(Christopher Logues The Weekdream Sonnets, published by Jack Straw), 30(Collection Merlin/Olympia Press, and Samuel Beckett’s Molloy specifically) and 308 (Merlin).
Binding: Printed card wrappers, with orange front and spine, spilling over to a 1-inch band on back. Remainder of back wrapper is white. Front cover: [centred at head in white l.c. large type:] merlin | [centred below title in smaller l.c. type:] the paris quarterly | [at foot, slightly to the left, and in orange within a thin white panel:] 75 c [space] 3/- [space] 250fr. [At foot and to the right, in orange within a larger and oblong white panel:] no [large] 4 | [small] vol 2.
Spine: [at top of spine, reading down in widely-spaced white l.c.:] merlin. [At foot of spine, reading down in orange type within white panel:] 4/2. Back cover: [at foot and to the right of white section:] SOCIETE D’IMPRESSIONS PUBLICITAIRES | 75, Rue Alexis Pesnon MONTREUIL | Tel. : AVR. 12-53.
The inside front wrapper carries an advertisement for Merlin comprising lists of contributions promised for later issues and available back issues. The inside back wrapper carries two half-page advertisements, the uppermost for The Western Review, a literary quarterly published by the University of Iowa, and the lower for Lascaux, ou la Naissance de l‘art, an art book with text by Georges Bataille published by Albert Skira.
MERLIN the Paris quarterly, No. 7 [Vol.2, number 4, Spring/Summer 1955]
See full description above. Rare item and the only issue actually published by Olympia Press. Overall condition very good. Price includes postage worldwide.
A rare opportunity to obtain 6 of the seven published editions of Merlin. including copies of Volume 2 number 1, complete with the publishers wrap around band, not previously seen by this author. My Thanks to Hans Streppel of the Netherlands for this rare and interesting find.
These Titles are available for Trade Only against my Paris Olympia Press Wants
Bibliographical description courtesy of Patrick Kearney, The Paris Olympia Press, Liverpool University Press 2007. MERLIN Pages 75-78, including the item description (2.7.1)
MERLIN
The first issue of Merlin—initially subtitled A collection of Contemporary Writings was published in the Spring of 1952. It was edited by Alexander Trocchi, and published by his American girl friend Alice Jane Lougee. Five further issues under this editor/publisher combination would follow. The seventh and final issue was published by the Olympia Press, described in detail below. In view of the important connection between Merlin, its contributors and editorial personnel, and the Olympia Press, a brief summary of the non-Olympia issues is given. The names of contributors or the titles of works-in-progress are limited to those with known Olympia Press affiliations.
[Vol. 1, number 2, Autumn, 1952.]
Cover
Back Cover
No. 2 [Vol. 1, number 2, Autumn, 1952.] Printed by Impr. de la S.A.I.B.E.L, Fontenay-aux-Roses (Seine). Contributions by Patrick Bowles (credited here as P. W. Bowles), Christopher Logue and Richard Seaver.
TWO COPIES: Both Very GOOD.
[Vol. 1, number 3, Winter 1952-53.]
Cover
Back Cover
No. 3 [Vol. 1, number 3, Winter 1952-53.] Printed by Arrault et Cie, Tours. This issue is additionally described as a Revue Trimestrielle and Richard Seaver is credited as Advisory Editor and Director. Contributions by Samuel Beckett [extract from Watt], Austryn Wainhouse [extract from Hedyphagetica.] and Richard Seaver.
ONE COPY GOOD PLUS
[Vol. 2, number 1, Spring-Summer, 1953.]
Cover
Back Cover
No. 4 [Vol. 2, number 1, Spring-Summer, 1953.] Printed by Arrault et Cie, Tours. As with the three preceding issues, the editorial offices of Merlin are based at Librairie Mistral, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, Paris 5. In this issue, the subtitle A collection of Contemporary Writings is abandoned, but the description Revue Trimestrielle remains. Seaver maintains his post of Advisory Editor and Director, and the design and typography of the issue is credited to Walter G. Coleman. Whether he is any relation to John Coleman, author of The Enormous Bed (5.1.1) and The Itch (5.22.1) I am unable to say. Contributions by Jean Genet [extract from Journal du voleur], Christopher Logue [verse extracted from Wand and Quadrant], Henry Miller [extract, provided by the Olympia Press, from the proofs of Plexus. This is the first reference to a connection to the Olympia Press in Merlin.]
SIX COPIES ALL VERY GOOD NEAR FINE, 4 COPIES WITH COMPLETE PUBLISHERS WRAPAROUND BAND, ONE WITH PARTIAL BAND AND ONE WITHOUT.
[Vol. 2, number 2, Autumn 1953.]
Cover
Back Cover
No. 5 [Vol. 2, number 2, Autumn 1953.] This issue was printed in Spain, and no printer is given.Seaver’s role in the proceedings become Assistant Editor & Editor. John Coleman is credited as Business Manager. The editorial address becomes 42, rue de Seine, Paris 6, which was the English Bookshop. The first advertisements for Collection Merlin and the Olympia Press appear in this issue. For Collection Merlin the titles listed are Beckett’s Watt and Logue’s Wand and Quandrant, with Hedyphagetica by Wainhouse and Molloy by Beckett To be published. The Olympia Press offers Justine by the marquis de Sade and Plexus by Henry Miller. Despite the editorial address for Merlin being on the rue de Seine, the address given for both Collection Merlin and the Olympia Press is 13, rue Jacob, Paris 6. Contributions by Logue, Beckett [extract from Molloy], Brassaï [i.e. Jules Halasz; four photographs, with a note by Seaver] and Wainhouse.
Two Copies One Very Good one only about good
[Vol. 2, number 3, Summer/Autumn 1954.]
Cover
Back Cover
No. 6 [Vol. 2, number 3, Summer/Autumn 1954.] Printed by Impr. Richard, 24, rue Stéphenson, Paris 18. Seaver, Wainhouse, Bowles and W. Baird Bryant are listed as Associates, and John Stevenson is credited as Business Manager. The editorial address remains with the English Bookshop on rue de Seine. A full-page advertisement for Collection Merlin offers Beckettřs Watt, Logue’s Wand and Quadrant, Jean Genet’s The Thief‘s Journal and Wainhouse’s Hedyphagetica. Beckett’s Molloy is announced for Autumn publication. There is a half-page advertisement for the Olympia Press that offers no specific titles, but Books in English of lasting value. This is the last issue of Merlin to be published by Alice Jane Lougee. Contributions by Beckett [The End, translated by Seaver in collaboration with Beckett], Trocchi and Patrick Bowles.
One copy Very good Plus
2.7.1 MERLIN No. 7 [Vol.2, number 4, Spring/Summer 1955]
[On the left, at head of page in l.c. and large type:] merlin | [at left, below title and in small type:] revue trimestrielle | founded by Alice Jane Lougee | EDITORS [on the right, one name below the other:] Alexander Trocchi | Austryn Wainhouse | [on the left:] COMMITTEE [on the right, one name below the other:] PatrickBowles | W. Baird Bryant | Corneille | Robert Creeley | Ben Johnson | Richard Seaver | Shinkichi Tajiri | [on the left:] EDITORIAL ADDRESS [on the right:] The English Bookshop | 42, Rue de Seine, Paris-6e | [on the left:] PUBLISHER [on the right:] The Olympia Press | 8, Rue de Nesle, Paris-6e | [in centre of page:] contents | [in two columns, each line separated after the page number by a continuous vertical rule:] Michel de M‘Uzan 233 THREE TALES | Pablo Neruda 242 TWENTY LOVE POEMS | Austryn Wainhouse 259 SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN | ENGINEERING AND REFLEXIONS UPON | AN EROTIC BOOK | Jaap Mooy [no page numbers] FOUR ILLUMINATIONS | Cleveland Moffett 274 PHEIDIPPIDES | Alain Clément 281 FRANCE AS SEEN BY THE GERMANS | Lennart Olson [no page numbers] FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS | Alister Kershaw 298 ALDINGTON’S CRITICS | Christopher Logue 301 GRAHAM’S NIGHTFISHING | Richard Gibson 303 CURZIO MALAPARTE : | THE VISION OF DEFEAT | [below Contents, and centered on columns above:] line drawings by WILLIAM PARKER| spring 1955 summer | [at foot of page, left:] MERLIN IS PRINTED IN FRANCE [at foot of page, right:] vol. 2 no. [in large type] 4
Collation: 80 pp. No signatures, but [1-5]8, with the numeration of the pages following on from previous issues of the periodical. Two double leaves on coated photographic paper (comprising photographs by Jaap Mooy and Lennart Olson) are inserted between pp. 260,261 & 276,277 and between pp. 292,293 & following p. 308. 24 x 15.4 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper.
Contents: p. [229], untitled note signed The Editors. p. [230], two half-page advertisements, the upper for two novels published by Plon and the lower for the Paris Review. p. [231], title, as above. p. [232], three advertisements, one across the top of the page for James Broughton’s An Almanac for Amorists, and the other two, side-by-side below, for, on the right, Sartre’s revue mensuelle Les Temps modernes and, on the left, for The English Bookshop. pp. 233-241,
Three Tales by Michel de M’Uzan, translated by Philip Oxman. pp. 242-258, Twenty Love Poems by Pablo Neruda, translated by Patrick Bowles and Christopher Logue. pp. 259-273, Some Basic Principles Of Human Engineering And Reflexions Upon An Erotic Book by Austryn Wainhouse. pp. 274-280, Pheidippides by Cleveland Moffett. pp. 281-298, France as Seen by the Germans by Alain Clément. Clément’s piece is referred to at the head of p. 281 as Chronicles. pp. 298-308 are printed in two columns and a smaller typeface, and comprise three pieces described as Notes: Aldington‘s Critics by Alister Kershaw (pp. 298-301). Graham‘s Nightfishing by Christopher Logue (pp. 301-303). Curzio Malaparte: The Vision of Defeat by Richard Gibson (pp. 303-308). Drawings by William Parker appear on pp. 234, 243, 249, 258, 273, 274, & 280. Advertisements appear on pp. 299 (Les Editions de Minuit), 301 (Obelisk Press), 303 (Hedyphagetica, by Austryn Wainhouse), 304
(Christopher Logues The Weekdream Sonnets, published by Jack Straw), 30(Collection Merlin/Olympia Press, and Samuel Beckett’s Molloy specifically) and 308 (Merlin).
Binding: Printed card wrappers, with orange front and spine, spilling over to a 1-inch band on back. Remainder of back wrapper is white. Front cover: [centred at head in white l.c. large type:] merlin | [centred below title in smaller l.c. type:] the paris quarterly | [at foot, slightly to the left, and in orange within a thin white panel:] 75 c [space] 3/- [space] 250fr. [At foot and to the right, in orange within a larger and oblong white panel:] no [large] 4 | [small] vol 2.
Spine: [at top of spine, reading down in widely-spaced white l.c.:] merlin. [At foot of spine, reading down in orange type within white panel:] 4/2. Back cover: [at foot and to the right of white section:] SOCIETE D’IMPRESSIONS PUBLICITAIRES | 75, Rue Alexis Pesnon MONTREUIL | Tel. : AVR. 12-53.
The inside front wrapper carries an advertisement for Merlin comprising lists of contributions promised for later issues and available back issues. The inside back wrapper carries two half-page advertisements, the uppermost for The Western Review, a literary quarterly published by the University of Iowa, and the lower for Lascaux, ou la Naissance de l‘art, an art book with text by Georges Bataille published by Albert Skira.
Another of my clandestine titles from the 1950’s, and very clearly copyrighted in 1958, a copy of the title originally published in 1938, and although 5 plates is correct for this edition, the original in fact had 6 monochrome plates and a colour plate on plain paper, curiously there are copies of the original for sale, but I cannot locate a copy of this edition elsewhere, so rare in its own right with the added Losfeld factor.
This title is available for trade against my Paris Olympia Press wants.
Please note: The printers decorations at the top and bottom of the page and dividing the images are not from this book.
J. STYKA,
Cruelles Frénésies.
Paris: Les Editions du Crépuscule [1958]. 8vo. pp. Unpaginated, but pp. 164. With five plates by ‘Wighead.’ [Bibliothèque Nationale: 8-Y2-90000(1381). – Dutel, 1322.] A reprint of Les Cruelles Frénésies de Van den Rook, by J. Van Styk, published by Les Editions du Couvre-Feu, Paris 1938. The Losfeld edition was prosecuted in September 1960. In original Printed covers Very Good Condition
The iIlustrations
Any questions or any information about this title please leave a comment or complete a contact form.
A welcome addition of a hard to find item. Bibliographical description courtesy of Patrick Kearney, The Paris Olympia Press, Liverpool University Press 2007. MERLIN Pages 75-78, including the item description (2.7.1)
MERLIN
The first issue of Merlin—initially subtitled A collection of Contemporary Writings was published in the Spring of 1952. It was edited by Alexander Trocchi, and published by his American girl friend Alice Jane Lougee. Five further issues under this editor/publisher combination would follow. The seventh and final issue was published by the Olympia Press, described in detail below. In view of the important connection between Merlin, its contributors and editorial personnel, and the Olympia Press, a brief summary of the non-Olympia issues is given. The names of contributors or the titles of works-in-progress are limited to those with known Olympia Press affiliations.
No. 1 [Vol. 1, number 1, Spring 1952.] Printed by Impr. Mazarine. Contributions by Christopher Logue, Alfred Chester and Alexander Trocchi.
No. 2 [Vol. 1, number 2, Autumn, 1952.] Printed by Impr. de la S.A.I.B.E.L, Fontenay-aux-Roses (Seine). Contributions by Patrick Bowles (credited here as P. W. Bowles), Christopher Logue and Richard Seaver.
No. 3 [Vol. 1, number 3, Winter 1952-53.] Printed by Arrault et Cie, Tours. This issue is additionally described as a Revue Trimestrielle and Richard Seaver is credited as Advisory Editor and Director. Contributions by Samuel Beckett [extract from Watt], Austryn Wainhouse [extract from Hedyphagetica.] and Richard Seaver.
No. 4 [Vol. 2, number 1, Spring-Summer, 1953.] Printed by Arrault et Cie, Tours. As with the three preceding issues, the editorial offices of Merlin are based at Librairie Mistral, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, Paris 5. In this issue, the subtitle A collection of Contemporary Writings is abandoned, but the description Revue Trimestrielle remains. Seaver maintains his post of Advisory Editor and Director, and the design and typography of the issue is credited to Walter G. Coleman. Whether he is any relation to John Coleman, author of The Enormous Bed (5.1.1) and The Itch (5.22.1) I am unable to say. Contributions by Jean Genet [extract from Journal du voleur], Christopher Logue [verse extracted from Wand and Quadrant], Henry Miller [extract, provided by the Olympia Press, from the proofs of Plexus. This is the first reference to a connection to the Olympia Press in Merlin.]
No. 5 [Vol. 2, number 2, Autumn 1953.] This issue was printed in Spain, and no printer is given.Seaver’s role in the proceedings become Assistant Editor & Editor. John Coleman is credited as Business Manager. The editorial address becomes 42, rue de Seine, Paris 6, which was the English Bookshop. The first advertisements for Collection Merlin and the Olympia Press appear in this issue. For Collection Merlin the titles listed are Beckett’s Watt and Logue’s Wand and Quandrant, with Hedyphagetica by Wainhouse and Molloy by Beckett To be published. The Olympia Press offers Justine by the marquis de Sade and Plexus by Henry Miller. Despite the editorial address for Merlin being on the rue de Seine, the address given for both Collection Merlin and the Olympia Press is 13, rue Jacob, Paris 6. Contributions by Logue, Beckett [extract from Molloy], Brassaï [i.e. Jules Halasz; four photographs, with a note by Seaver] and Wainhouse.
No. 6 [Vol. 2, number 3, Summer/Autumn 1954.] Printed by Impr. Richard, 24, rue Stéphenson, Paris 18. Seaver, Wainhouse, Bowles and W. Baird Bryant are listed as Associates, and John Stevenson is credited as Business Manager. The editorial address remains with the English Bookshop on rue de Seine. A full-page advertisement for Collection Merlin offers Beckettřs Watt, Logue’s Wand and Quadrant, Jean Genet’s The Thief‘s Journal and Wainhouse’s Hedyphagetica. Beckett’s Molloy is announced for Autumn publication. There is a half-page advertisement for the Olympia Press that offers no specific titles, but Books in English of lasting value. This is the last issue of Merlin to be published by Alice Jane Lougee. Contributions by Beckett [The End, translated by Seaver in collaboration with Beckett], Trocchi and Patrick Bowles.
2.7.1 MERLIN No. 7 [Vol.2, number 4, Spring/Summer 1955]
[On the left, at head of page in l.c. and large type:] merlin | [at left, below title and in small type:] revue trimestrielle | founded by Alice Jane Lougee | EDITORS [on the right, one name below the other:] Alexander Trocchi | Austryn Wainhouse | [on the left:] COMMITTEE [on the right, one name below the other:] PatrickBowles | W. Baird Bryant | Corneille | Robert Creeley | Ben Johnson | Richard Seaver | Shinkichi Tajiri | [on the left:] EDITORIAL ADDRESS [on the right:] The English Bookshop | 42, Rue de Seine, Paris-6e | [on the left:] PUBLISHER [on the right:] The Olympia Press | 8, Rue de Nesle, Paris-6e | [in centre of page:] contents | [in two columns, each line separated after the page number by a continuous vertical rule:] Michel de M‘Uzan 233 THREE TALES | Pablo Neruda 242 TWENTY LOVE POEMS | Austryn Wainhouse 259 SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN | ENGINEERING AND REFLEXIONS UPON | AN EROTIC BOOK | Jaap Mooy [no page numbers] FOUR ILLUMINATIONS | Cleveland Moffett 274 PHEIDIPPIDES | Alain Clément 281 FRANCE AS SEEN BY THE GERMANS | Lennart Olson [no page numbers] FOUR PHOTOGRAPHS | Alister Kershaw 298 ALDINGTON’S CRITICS | Christopher Logue 301 GRAHAM’S NIGHTFISHING | Richard Gibson 303 CURZIO MALAPARTE : | THE VISION OF DEFEAT | [below Contents, and centered on columns above:] line drawings by WILLIAM PARKER| spring 1955 summer | [at foot of page, left:] MERLIN IS PRINTED IN FRANCE [at foot of page, right:] vol. 2 no. [in large type] 4
Collation: 80 pp. No signatures, but [1-5]8, with the numeration of the pages following on from previous issues of the periodical. Two double leaves on coated photographic paper (comprising photographs by Jaap Mooy and Lennart Olson) are inserted between pp. 260,261 & 276,277 and between pp. 292,293 & following p. 308. 24 x 15.4 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper.
Contents: p. [229], untitled note signed The Editors. p. [230], two half-page advertisements, the upper for two novels published by Plon and the lower for the Paris Review. p. [231], title, as above. p. [232], three advertisements, one across the top of the page for James Broughton’s An Almanac for Amorists, and the other two, side-by-side below, for, on the right, Sartre’s revue mensuelle Les Temps modernes and, on the left, for The English Bookshop. pp. 233-241,
Three Tales by Michel de M’Uzan, translated by Philip Oxman. pp. 242-258, Twenty Love Poems by Pablo Neruda, translated by Patrick Bowles and Christopher Logue. pp. 259-273, Some Basic Principles Of Human Engineering And Reflexions Upon An Erotic Book by Austryn Wainhouse. pp. 274-280, Pheidippides by Cleveland Moffett. pp. 281-298, France as Seen by the Germans by Alain Clément. Clément’s piece is referred to at the head of p. 281 as Chronicles. pp. 298-308 are printed in two columns and a smaller typeface, and comprise three pieces described as Notes: Aldington‘s Critics by Alister Kershaw (pp. 298-301). Graham‘s Nightfishing by Christopher Logue (pp. 301-303). Curzio Malaparte: The Vision of Defeat by Richard Gibson (pp. 303-308). Drawings by William Parker appear on pp. 234, 243, 249, 258, 273, 274, & 280. Advertisements appear on pp. 299 (Les Editions de Minuit), 301 (Obelisk Press), 303 (Hedyphagetica, by Austryn Wainhouse), 304
(Christopher Logues The Weekdream Sonnets, published by Jack Straw), 30(Collection Merlin/Olympia Press, and Samuel Beckett’s Molloy specifically) and 308 (Merlin).
Binding: Printed card wrappers, with orange front and spine, spilling over to a 1-inch band on back. Remainder of back wrapper is white. Front cover: [centred at head in white l.c. large type:] merlin | [centred below title in smaller l.c. type:] the paris quarterly | [at foot, slightly to the left, and in orange within a thin white panel:] 75 c [space] 3/- [space] 250fr. [At foot and to the right, in orange within a larger and oblong white panel:] no [large] 4 | [small] vol 2.
Spine: [at top of spine, reading down in widely-spaced white l.c.:] merlin. [At foot of spine, reading down in orange type within white panel:] 4/2. Back cover: [at foot and to the right of white section:] SOCIETE D’IMPRESSIONS PUBLICITAIRES | 75, Rue Alexis Pesnon MONTREUIL | Tel. : AVR. 12-53.
The inside front wrapper carries an advertisement for Merlin comprising lists of contributions promised for later issues and available back issues. The inside back wrapper carries two half-page advertisements, the uppermost for The Western Review, a literary quarterly published by the University of Iowa, and the lower for Lascaux, ou la Naissance de l‘art, an art book with text by Georges Bataille published by Albert Skira.
The latest batch of my Traveller’s Companion duplicates, as always available for trade against any of my Paris Olympia Press wants or any other rare or interesting items of erotica that might enhance the listing. All images are of actual books from my personal collection. The bibliographical description is courtesy of Patrick Kearney, The Paris Olympia Press, The Liverpool University Press. 2007, Index Numbers (example 4.41.1 are the actual location of the description in the bibliography)
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS BY POSTING A COMMENT.
5.51.1 THE WHITE PAPER Anonymous [Jean Cocteau?], 1957
TC 51 The (A) White Paper
ANONYMOUS | THE | WHITE | PAPER | With a Preface and Illustrations | by | JEAN COCTEAU | de l‘Académie Française | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES |published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | 7, Rue Saint-Séverin – Paris-5
Collation: 104 pp. 1-10,[11],12,[13]4. 17.6 x 11.0 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper. Contents: pp. [i-iv] blank. p. [1] THE | WHITE PAPER, reverse blank. p. [3] title, as above, reverse blank. pp. 5-9, Preface, signed by Jean Cocteau. p. [10] blank. pp. 11-46, text. p. [47] illustration. pp. 48-58, text. p. [59] illustration. pp. 60-68, text. p. [69] illustration. pp. 70-84, text. p. [85] illustration. pp. 86-88, text. p. [89] illustration. pp. 90-[94], text. p. [95] PRINTED | IN PARIS, | JULY 1957, | BY IMPRIMERIE MAZARINE, | FOR | THE OLYMPIA PRESS. | Dépôt légal : 3e trimestre 1957 | [rule] | Printed in France. pp. [96-100] blank. Binding: Olive-green wrappers, printed in black and trimmed flush with body of the book. [Front cover; within a frame of two borders, the outer consisting of fine linked chain of type device in black, and the inner a thin band of white edged in black:] [three evenly spaced five-pointed black stars] | A [sic] | WHITE | PAPER | With a Preface | and illustrations by | JEAN COCTEAU | no 51 | THE | TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES. [Spine; within a white, black-edged panel, the series no. in horizontal digits at bottom and title lettered vertically up spine:] 51 [-] A [sic] WHITE PAPER. [Back cover, at bottom right-hand corner:] Francs : 1.200.
Notes: (1) The translation is by Austryn Wainhouse, as revealed in a letter from Mr. Wainhouse to the compiler dated February 29th 1992. In addition to the five full-page illustrations indicated above in the collation, there are four in-text illustrations which appear on pp. 17, [25], 35, [77]. (2) A copy in the collection of Mr William Ashley is in an altered state with a black sticker over the original price indicating a price increase to NF 18. Mr Steve Mullins of London, reports a copy in an altered state with the price overstamped NF18. (3) The original edition of Le Livre blanc was published at Paris in 1928 by Maurice Sachs and Jacques Bonjean, in an edition of just twenty-one copies. No author’s name was given. Two years later, an edition with seventeen illustrations credited to Cocteau was published, but the text remained anonymous. (4) Suppressed on May 14th, 1959 under the decree of May 1939 (article 14 of the law of July 29th 1881 sur la liberté de la presse), designed to combat politically and morally offensive périodiques et ouvrages de provenance étrangère.
One Copy Very Good, full description of condition and extra images on request.
5.52.2 JULIETTE Vol. I D.-A.-F. De Sade, 1962
TC 52 Juliette Vol 1 1962
[Within a green border of type ornament:] DONATIEN-ALDONSE-FRANÇOIS | MARQUIS DE SADE | THE STORY OF | JULIETTE | OR VICE | AMPLY REWARDED | being a English rendering | from the French by | Pieralessandro Casavini, | in five volumes. | VOLUME ONE | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES | published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | [breaking the border:] 7, Rue Saint-Séverin, Paris
Collation: 288 pp. 52.1-52.188. 17.5 x 11.2 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper. Contents: pp. [1,2] blank. p. [3] .JULIETTE.. p. [4] .All rights relative to this English version | of \Juliette. are reserved by the Publishers. | Copyright c by The Olympia Press, 1962.. p. [5] title, as above, reverse blank. pp. 7-[285] text. p. [286] blank. p. [287] .PRINTED IN FRANCE | by Imprimerie Moderne du Lion, Paris. July 1962. | [rule] | Depot legal : 3e trimestre 1962.. p. [288] blank. Binding: Olive-green wrappers, printed in black, and trimmed flush with body of the book. [Front cover; within a frame of two borders, the outer consisting of fine linked chain of type device in black, and the inner a thin band of white edged in black:] .D. A. F. DE SADE | THE STORY | OF | JULIETTE | VOLUME ONE | no 52 | THE | TRAVELLER’S COMPANION |SERIES.. [Spine; within a white, black-edged panel, the series no. in horizontal digits at bottom and title lettered vertically up spine:] .52 [-] THE STORY OF JULIETTE.. [Back cover, at bottom right-hand corner:] .18 N. F. | NOT TO BE SOLD | IN U.S.A. & U.K.. Notes: .Pierelessandro Casavini. is the pseudonym of Austryn Wainhouse.
2 Copies both Very Good, Extra images and full description on request
5.53.1 JULIETTE Vol. II D.-A.-F. De Sade, 1959
TC 53 Juliette Vol 2 1959
[Within a green border of type ornament:] DONATIEN•ALDONSE•FRANÇOIS | MARQUIS DE SADE |THE STORY OF | JULIETTE | OR VICE | AMPLY REWARDED | being a English rendering | from the French by |Pieralessandro Casavini, | in five volumes. | VOLUME TWO |THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES | published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | [breaking the border:] 7, rue Saint-Séverin, Paris 5
Collation: 272 pp. 53.1-52.178. 17.3 x 11.0 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper. Contents: pp. [1,2] blank. p. [3] JULIETTE. p. [4] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] | Copyright by The Olympia Press, Paris, France 1959. p.[5] title, as above, reverse blank. pp. 7-[268] text. p. [269] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] | Printed July 1959 by S.I.P., Montreuil, France | Dépôt légal : 3e trimestre 1959. pp. [270-272] blank. Binding: Olive-green wrappers, printed in black, and trimmed flush with body of the book. [Front cover; within a frame of two borders, the outer consisting of fine linked chain of type device in black, and the inner a thin band of white edged in black:] D. A. F. DE SADE | THE STORY | OF | JULIETTE | VOLUME TWO | no 53 | THE | TRAVELLER’S COMPANION |SERIES. [Spine; within a white, black-edged panel, the series no. in horizontal digits at bottom and title lettered vertically up spine:] 53 * * [-] THE STORY OF JULIETTE. [Back cover, at bottom right-hand corner:] Francs : 1.500. Notes: Pierelessandro Casavini is the pseudonym of Austryn Wainhouse.
Two Copies one Very Good one Good Plus. Detailed description of condition and extra images on request.
5.54.1 JULIETTE Vol. III D.-A.-F. De Sade, 1960
TC54 Juliette Vol 3 1960
[Within a green border of type ornament:] DONATIEN-ALDONSE-FRANÇOIS, | MARQUIS DE SADE | THE STORY OF | JULIETTE | OR VICE | AMPLY REWARDED | being a English rendering | from the French by | Pieralessandro Casavini, | in six volumes. | VOLUME THREE | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES | published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | [breaking the border:] 7 rue Saint-Séverin, Paris 5
One Copy Very Good, full description of condition and extra images on request.
5.55.1 JULIETTE Vol. IV D.-A.-F. De Sade, 1960
TC 55 Juliette Vol 4 1960
[Within a green border of type ornament:] DONATIEN•ALDONSE•FRANÇOIS, | MARQUIS DE SADE |THE STORY OF | JULIETTE | OR VICE | AMPLY REWARDED | being a English rendering | from the French by |Pieralessandro Casavini, | in six volumes. | VOLUME FOUR |THETRAVELLERřS COMPANION | SERIES | published by | [breaking the border:] THE OLYMPIA PRESS | 7 rue Saint-Séverin, Paris 5
4 copies 2 very good 2 Good. Extra Images and full description of condition on request.
5.56.1 JULIETTE Vol. V D.-A.-F. De Sade, 1961
TC 56 Juliette Vol 5 1961
[Within a green border of type ornament:] DONATIEN-ALDONSE-FRANÇOIS, | MARQUIS DE SADE | THE STORY OF | JULIETTE | OR VICE | AMPLY REWARDED | being a English rendering | from the French by | Pieralessandro Casavini, | in six volumes. | VOLUME FIVE | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES | published by | [breaking the border:] THE OLYMPIA PRESS | 7 rue Saint-Séverin, Paris 5
Two Copies about GOOD. Full description of condition and extra images on request.
5.57.1 JULIETTE Vol. VI D.-A.-F. De Sade, 1964
TC 57 Juliette Vol 6 1964
[Within a green border of type ornament:] DONATIEN-ALDONSE-FRANÇOIS, | MARQUIS DE SADE | THE STORY OF | JULIETTE | OR VICE | AMPLY REWARDED | being a English rendering | from the French by | Pieralessandro Casavino [sic] & John Crombie, | in seven volumes. | VOLUME SIX | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES | published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | [breaking the border:] 7, rue Saint-Séverin, Paris 5
1 Copy Very Good + , Extra images and details of condition on request.
5.59.1 DISSOLVING Tim Harrack, 1958
TC 59 Dissolving 1958
[Within a green border of type ornament:] TIM HARRACK |DISSOLVING | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES | published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | [breaking the border:] 7, rue Saint-Severin, Paris
Collation: 192 pp. 59.1 – 59.128. 17.6 x 11.1 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper. Contents: pp. [1,2] blank. p. [3] DISSOLVING. p. [4] [rule] | All right reserved by The Olympia Press Paris France. p. [5] title, as above, reverse blank. pp. 7-[187] text. p. [188] blank. p. [189] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] | Printed March 1958 by S.I.P., Montreuil, France | Dépôt légal : 1er trimestre 1958. pp. [190-192] blank.Binding: Olive-green wrappers, printed in black, and trimmed flush with body of the book. [Front cover; within a frame of two borders, the outer consisting of fine linked chain of type device in black, and the inner a thin band of white edged in black:] TIM HARRACK | DISSOLVING | no 59 | THE | TRAVELLER’S COMPANION | SERIES. [Spine; within a white, black-edged panel, the series no. in horizontal digits at bottom and title lettered vertically up spine:] 59 [-] DISSOLVING. [Back cover, at bottom right-hand corner:] Francs : 1.200. Notes: Suppressed on May 14th, 1959 under the decree of May 1939 (article 14 of the law of July 29th 1881 sur la liberté de la presse), designed to combat politically and morally offensive périodiques et ouvrages de provenance étrangère.
2 Copies one Near Fine one Very Good Plus. Detailed description of condition and extra images on request.
5.60.1 I HEAR VOICES Paul Ableman, 1957
TC 60 I Hear Voices
[Within a green border of type ornament:] PAUL ABLEMAN |I | HEAR | VOICES | THE TRAVELLER’S COMPANION |SERIES | published by | THE OLYMPIA PRESS | [breaking the border:] 7, rue Saint-Séverin, Paris 5
Collation: 224 pp. No signatures, but [1-14]8. 17.3 x 11.3 cm., all edges trimmed. Printed on white wove paper.
Contents: pp. [1,2] blank. p. [3] I | HEAR | VOICES, reverse blank. p. [5] title, as above. p. [6] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] | All rights reserved by The Olympia Press, Paris | COPYRIGHT 1958. p. [7] Until, gentlemen, you decide | further what my occupation is, you | may as well announce me as com- | forting 35 whirlpools below sound. | A Schizophrenic. p. [8] blank. pp. 9-[219] text. p. [220] blank. p. [221] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] | Printed December 1957 by S.I.P., Montreuil, France | Dépôt légal : 4e trimestre 1957 pp. [222-224] blank. Binding: bound in green cloth boards, with red endpapers and with black paper labels on spine and front cover, printed in gold and white. Label on front cover measures 5.2 x 8.2 cm. and has a gold border decorated in black with the same type ornament used on the titlepage: [in gold] PAUL ABLEMAN | [in white] I HEAR VOICES | [in gold] THE OLYMPIA PRESS, PARIS. Label on spine measures 5.0 x 2.4 cm. and is similarly decorated, but at top and bottom only: [in gold] ABLEMAN | [in white] I | HEAR | VOICES | [in gold] OLYMPIA. Published in a matt, grey-blue dustjacket with an abstract design on the front in red, black, yellow, white and orange. The author’s name, title of the book and publisher on spine and front of wrapper in black and white. The inside flaps of the dustjacket contain an anonymous review of synopsis of the novel, together with advertisments for Molloy and Watt, two books by Samuel Beckett also published by the Olympia Press. At the bottom of the back inside flap of the dustjacket is printed the information that book was distributed in the United Kingdom by Zwemmer, a well-known art bookshop in London’s Charing Cross Road. Notes: As yet unkown in the conventional green-wrappered Traveller’s Companion format; indeed, its number within the series is not to be found in the book, but is taken from Olympia advertisments where it is listed as number 60 of the series. No price appears on any copies that have been examined, but Olympia Press catalogues list it variously at 15 and 18 NF.
2 Copies both very good
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