Although normally cheaply produced , titles in this series enjoy profuse illustrations and this is no exception.
Title Page
Van Rod, Aimé, Asmodée, Visites fantastiques au pays du fouet. Librairie Artistique et Édition Parisienne réunies. Paris 1922. Illustrated by G.Topfer
in original illustrated publishers card covers printed in red and blue. Illustrated cover, 1 frontispiece, 3 full page and many in-text illustrations in B&W, 4 color illustrations.223 pages. Certainly an obscure title and rare in original covers, a very nice copy only marred by light sporadic spotting throughout.
As mentioned elsewhere, the majority of flagellation novels avoided prosecution at the time they were published, only to become the focus of prosecution in the 1950’s.
Bécourt 75: Sentenced by the 10th Chamber Seine Correctional Court on 8 May 1950 and then by the Paris Court of Appeal 10th Chamber on 27 October 1953; sentenced by the 17th Chamber Correctional Court of the Seine on November 25, 1953 and by the Paris Court of Appeal 10th Chamber on June 9, 1954.
This one falls within the risqué category, and is worthy of listing because it is illustrated by Chéri Hérouard, and is in such outstanding condition.
Cover
Back Cover
Title Page
Jacques Mauvain, Leurs Pantaloons, comment elles les portent, Jean Fort, Paris, 1923. In original publishers wraps with illustrated cover by Chéri Hérouard, original price of 15 Francs on spine, 255 pages with a frontispiece and 9 hors-text by Hérouard. Printed by Imp, Bon Vieux Temps, 12 rue de Chabrol, on the 29th December 1922, although the wraps appear to have been printed by P.Marmy. Atruly wonderful collection quality copy, uncut pages,unread copy.
Strictly speaking, not erotica, but certainly curiosa and having already listed the Carrington English translation, published as “Weird Women”, it seems fair to post this edition, especially as it features a great deal of nudity, composed by an outstanding artist that I have never featured before. Also worth note that this particular book is now live at auction on Catawiki and well worth bidding on.
Les Diaboliques , d’Aurevilly Barbey. Librairie de la Collection des dix (A Romagnol) nd (1910). Unique edition, printed especially for the Principe de San Faustino. Illustrated by Lobel Riche with 40 original signed illustrations hors-texte with artists embellishments. and 17 in text illustrations.
Spine in leather over red marbled boards, some tearing to inner edge of title page, and binding separating at back of book. light finger marking and spotting throughout. Overall about good. A Unique edition with some illustrations not in other copies of this edition.
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.
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)
Another title in this curious series, this one incomplete with only six of the assumed eight illustrations called for, unsure whether this one ever had a duotone frontis or cover illustrations, would be grateful for any information or missing scans to enhance the listing.
Title Page
Vergerie, Jean, Goules et vampires, (Collection de l’Églantine), 1936. Illustré par Chang, Sao. Printed on the 19th May 1936by l’lmprimerie J. Alacatin, 33 rue Pixerecourt , Paris, 222 numbered pages, (23 x14 cm). Significant wear to edges and spine. Text complete, 6 of the 8 hors-texte called for.
Second listing for me of books in this small series, but this title was, I believe the first of the illustrated flagellation novels produced by this author. this one is complete, and reveals in its print details that it was run off by the same press that was producing books for the Vidal imprints including titles produced by Jim Galding and J Van Styk, which had a very similar extreme style.
Title Page
Vergerie, Jean, Férocités sensuelles, (Collection de l’Églantine), 1935. Illustré par Lany-R et Chang, Sao. In original publishers card covers printed in red and black on front cover and spine. (23 x 14c.m),234 numbered pages, Printed 10th December 1935, by l’Imprimerie, J. Alcatin 33 rue Pixerecourt, Paris. with 8 full page illustrations on glossy paper by Chang, Sao and a loose duotone illustration by Lany-R. Taped at head and tail of spine covers generally grubby but Complete.
Unsure whether the colour illustration was part of a dust-wrapper, or as was sometimes the case, pasted over the front cover, or otherwise just tipped in as a frontispiece.