Asphodel (1998). Hardcover. The bookselling firm of Michael deHartington issued ten catalogues of homosexual literature during its brief existence from 1972-1974. These catalogues included some of the rarest books on the subject and remain a significant resource for students, collectors and bibliophiles. These catalogues, rareties themselves, have been reissued here in a facsimile edition along with an Introduction by Timothy d'Arch Smith, one of the firm's principals, and a widely respected scholar in the field. More

Paris, A. Savine (1890). 295pp. The novel based upon the author's experiences in a French prison camp in Tunisia, which has been described as "'the most effective indictment of the French colonial army written in the nineteenth century.' Darien chronicles the lives of men caught up in the system and deals compassionately with the subject of homosexuality in the army. Never a member of the literary elite in France, he was much admired by the Symbolists and wrote a number of political tracts and was considered an anarchist. The novel was adapted to the stage and later film and has remained a classic since its publication.This is the first edition of the book, quite rare in commerce. Very good in limp maroon leather boards, original wrappers present, inked stamp of the Collège de ’Pataphysique on endpaper, along with the inked ownership stamp of Emmanuel Peillet, one of the founders of the Collège. More

Hanuman Books, Madras & New York, 1987. One of the series of small books initiated by Francesco Clemente. Vry good, light edgewear. More

London: Woolf (1964). A critical bibliography of erotic bibliographies and book catalogues. One of 500 numbered copies, this is #3. Very good in boards, a little spine sunned. More

Paris: L'Edition (1918). 284pp. Memoirs of the famous French tragedien, who befriended Cocteau at a young age and helped to launch his career as a poet. Illustrated throughout with 24 drawings of Jean Lorrain, Robert de Montesquiou, Henri Bernstein, Sacha Guitry, Sarah Bernhardt, Edmond Rostand and others by Cappiello, de Losques, Lucien Laforge, etc. One of only thirty numbered copies on Japon (after 12 on Chine), this copy is also adorned with a warm inscription from the author on a title page from another addition which is tipped onto endpaper. A very nice copy in original decorated wrappers. More

Paris Modern-Bibliothèque [1909?] 155p. The first illustrated edition of this novel, which caused a scandal when it appeared. because of its 'indelicate and unpatriotic' novel about military life, it includes one character, Laprévotte, a sodomite, who is cuaght in Le Havre with a group of seven boys. It was prodeeded against for indecency ('outrage aux moeurs'), and the defendants were acquitted in March 1890." - - Patrick Pollard, André Gide: Homosexual Moralist, Yale University Press, 1991). More

London: Curwen Press (1926). 13pp. An uncommon collection of some of Douglas's poems privately printed by A. J. A. Symons in an edition of 50 copies (this is #40). Very good in printed wrappers, light wear to covers, corrections of 4 misprints in the author's hand. Laid into a yellow linen chemise and slipcase, bookplate on front pastedown. Warmly inscribed by Douglas on endpaper ("A belated wedding gift."). More

Graz: Neugebauer (2016). 277pp. Volume 8 of the Norman Douglas Selected Correspondence series, the correspondence commences in 1928 and ends shortly before Douglas' death in 1952. Fine in red fabric boards, as issued. Photographic frontispiece. More

Graz: Neugebauer (2010). 312pp. Volume 3 of the Selected Correspondence of Norman Douglas, which includes nearly 40 years of letters between these longtime friends, covering a wide range of shared interests and acquaintances. Illustrations. Fine in red linen boards. More

Paris. 1 April 1921 (Series B. #2). (20” x 8/5”). 4pp. An unusual publication by the American dancer/poet/printer who settled in Paris in 1911 and printed a number of his own works, including this periodical espousing his philosophies. This edition also includes short works by Han Ryner, Louis Forest and an excerpt from Natalie Barney’s Pensées d'une Amazon. Very good, edges lightly darkened, folded sheet. Rare. More

NP: ND [1911]. This controversial work of pornography contains a chapter on Baron Jacques d'Adelwärd Fersen, which was originally published by the author in 1904 in a pamphlet entitled Les mémoires du Baron Jacques : Lubricités infernales de la noblesse décadente. The author sets forth a rather bizarre and largely spurious account of Fersen and his sexual indiscretions, including alleged trysts with Oscar Wilde, Jean Lorrain, his own mother and assorted others. The original pamphlet was condemned by the Cour d'Assises in 1913 and this version, significantly revised was issued several years later. (see Ogrinc, Frère Jacques: A Shrine to Love and Sorrow). A quite rare publication, we can find no institutional copies. Very good, with original front wrapper present, which includes an original, rather accomplished erotic drawing, plain brown wrappers. The first section includes 72 pages and six chapters, the second section is identified as "Livre III: Deuzième Volume" and consists of 88 pages and six successively numbered chapters and an Epilogue. Pia 1100, 1101; Perceau 287-C, D (who identifies the date of pubication]. More

Medoso, MMMCCCXXXIII [1888]. 75pp. The second edition of this important early document about sodomy, with particular attention to the notorious Deschauffours affair of 1726 wherein Benjamin Deschauffours was burned at the stake in the Place de Grève in Paris for kidnapping boys and selling them to some 200 French aristocrats. The pamphlet depicts Deschauffours ("Fourchuda") as the champion of the oppressed class in Spira ("Paris") who in his zeal in defending a large army of Ebugors ("Buggers") was taken prisoner in the struggle, thrown into the fire by the partisans of the Cytherons (referencing the Greek island of Cythera, traditionally associated with heterosexual love). The pamphlet uses anagrams throughout to disguise its subject matter and supplies a four page key at the end to assist in deconstructing the essay. The pamphlet was originally published in 1733 is quite rare and was routinely banned by censors. Bibliothèque nationale, Enfer, n° 113 - P. Pia, Les Livres de l'Enfer, p. 49. Very good in marbled boards and calf spine, marbled endpapers, original wrappers present, silk page marker, light spotting to endpapers. More

Elysium: Asphodel Editions (2005). 1st Edition. Hardcover. This edition is the first English translation of the eccentric Baron Fersen's decadent gay novel, Lord Lyllian: Messes Noires. Fersen (1880-1923) was arrested in 1903 and charged with indecent assault and exciting minors to debauchery. He was forced to leave France and settled in Capri, where he began the novel the following year. Originally published in 1905, it was one of the first novels written about Oscar Wilde after his demise and is filled with outrageous descriptions of fin de siècle excesses, including Fersen’s own addiction to opium and adolescent boys. The edition is limited to 500 copies bound in black silk moiré, with a reproduction of the original cover illustration by Claude Simpson tipped onto the cover. Jeremy Reed has contributed an Introduction to the edition. Printed at the Stinehour Press in Vermont. More