Featured Items
Studies in Strange Souls
Charles J. Sawyer. 1929. 82pp. Limited edition of 100 copies, this one being no. 56, signed by the author. Portrait frontis. + 2 plates. Original red buckram gilt faded on spine, otherwise very good. More
Extraviadas en su luz. [Novela]
Montevideo: Fontanillas y González, Impresores [1947]. Uncommon novel by the Uruguayan writer. Very good in decorative wrappers, light wear and yellowing to pages. Inscribed by the author on front endpaper. More
Castelo de Sombras
Lisbon (1923). 4to. Judith Teixeira (1880-1959) is considered by many to be the only Portuguese modernist poet. Castelo de Sombras was published in the same year as her controversial volume, Decadencia. Her books, along with those of António Botto and Raul Leal were seized by the Civil Government of Lisbon as a result of a campaign led by the conservative Liga de Acção dos Estudantes de Lisboa against "decadent artists, poets of Sodom, the publishers, authors and sellers of immoral books." Good in original wrappers, wear to covers and spine, occasional light spotting. Quite uncommon. More
Green Chaos
Fontenay-aux-Roses, France: New Review Editions (1931). 33pp. This collection of gay poetry by the American expatriate is of great rarity. Thoma's early life is rather obscure, but In 1930 he joined Samuel Putnam's New Review as an associate editor and was involved in much of the New Review 's warfare against Edward Titus's conservative This Quarter on the one hand, and Jolas's avant-garde transition on the other. Befriended by Jean Cocteau (to whom one of the poems in this collection is dedicated) he was well known among the expatriates in Paris in the 1920s. Inscribed twice by the author on endpaper, once to Jean-Marie Auffret and again to Oswell Blakeston "(But what is writ in red is lye/For what is writ in green is true/this book is for Oswell Blakeston/Richard Thoma"). Blakeston [Henry Joseph Hasslacher] was a protege of Kenneth Macpherson and Djuna Barnes and was involved with the film periodical Close Up and other Pool Group publications. Very good in original wrappers, light wear to covers, small split at head of spine, linen chemise. Hand-colored printed illustration by Emlen Etting on half-title. Very rare in commerce- this is the first example we have seen. One of 100 numbered and signed copies (#77). Young 2553*. More
Sonnets of Shakespeare's Ghost
Sydney: Angus & Robertson (1920). An uncommon collection of sonnets with a distinctly Uranian cast. "The words procured by Gregory Thornton and illustrated by Willem Blaeu. Very good in printed boards, small inscription on pastedown. More
Demain, Aprés-Demain
NP:ND. Soft cover. Original 64 page typescript of this play by Toesca, from the estate of Jean Marais, with a number of penned notations in his hand throughout. Bound in a paper and cloth binding with penned title. It appears this play may have never been produced. More
Two autograph letters from the acclaimed painter
Two autograph letters from the acclaimed painter to his longtime friend and confidant, Charles Kains-Jackson, both dated 1926. Tuke was best known for his paintings of maritime subjects, particularly of nude young men at the beach. The first is dated 11 February 1926, toward the end of Tuke's nine-week stay in Jamaica and was written on the letterhead of the Waterloo Hotel on Black River. Tuke writes: " I have done quite a lot of sketches & studies & found some good subjects, if one was ever to come back here for any length of time." The second letter was dated at Hampstead, England on 4 May 1926, shortly after his return, discussing his plans to visit the artist colony at Kardomah, Wales with friends: "Masson, Colin, and Towsey are all staying this week-end with Sidney Lomer!" Tuke's patron Sydney Lomer once famously asked Tuke to define the genitals more clearly in one of his paintings. "Colin' was possibly Colin Goodwyn, a model for his 1900 painting 'The Coming of Day'; 'Masson' was in all probability the artist's close friend Charles Masson Fox (1866-1935); and the final guest would be the photographer Stanley Towsey. Tuke also writes "If you come here I can show you a number of my sketches and you can inspect the new room I have added to the house." Signed as H .S. Tuke, each 2 pages, the first 8 1/2x5 1/2 inches, 21 1/2x14 cm, and the other a bit smaller; moderate wear and soiling to the first letter and minimal wear to the second. More
One ALS addressed to "My dear Ellis," likely the renowned English researcher on sexuality, Havelock Ellis
One ALS addressed to "My dear Ellis," likely the renowned English researcher on sexuality, Havelock Ellis (1859-1939), a contemporary who had been a protégé of Tuke's father. It discusses the rental of an art studio in London, and Tuke's planned trip to Panama and Jamaica. Tuke's Jamaica paintings from this trip were the subject of a 2015 exhibition. Very good. More
Holograph postcard (3" x 5.5") from Ulrichs
One of the fathers of the gay rights movement, Ulrichs (1825-1895) penned the highly influential Forschungen über das Rätsel der mannmännlichen Liebe in which he first articulated his view that homosexual love was natural and biological. His subsequent writings have formed the foundation of all later research and his insights were eventually adopted by mainstream science. Holograph postcard (3" x 5.5") from Ulrichs (signed "Carlo Arrigo Ulrichs") to a bookseller in Emden, Germany regarding his publication Alaudae. Ulrichs has settled in Aquila, Italy towards the end of his life and from 1889 to his death in 1895, he published the literary review Alaudae to promote the international use of Latin. He refers to several subscribers of the journal, including "a bishop and a reigning majesty ...' Although difficult to determine, it appears the card is dated 20 April 1889. Ulrichs correspondence is extremely rare. More
Les Androgynes
Paris: Méricant (1902). A decadent erotic novel with androgynous characters, illustrated with 25 black and white illustrations by Maurice Neumont. The author of more than forty books, many on similar themes, she was widely respected in fin de siecle literary circles. A very good copy in illustrated lightly worn wrappers, slight roll to spine. More
Souvenir Voor Burg
(1947). Jaap Vegter (1932-2003) was a highly regarded Dutch satirist and comic artist who worked for numerous newspapers and magazines. He often gave a clever and humorous comment on events and people from political, social and cultural life. This is one of his early works, a pen and ink drawing on paper of a group of men and boys arrayed before a naked recumbent boy wearing a sailor's cap. The artist has also decorated the frame in pen and ink with the caption: "JongelingenVereeniging op Gereformeerde Grondslag" and his signature in the lower frame. The subject relates to the "League of Youth Associations" a youth movement associated with the Dutch Reformed Churches where boys were made acquainted with the anti-revolutionary principles. More
An Edens Pforten. Aus Edebs Reich
München: Verlag Akropolis, [1907]. 158pp. The author's mystical philosophies of Clarism, the “new religion” that was founded by von Kupffer and Eduard Mayer in 1900, is elaborated in this early work. The development of this concept was a reaction to the monistic movements in the German-speaking countries. More
Lieblingminne und Freundsliebe in der Weltlitteratur
Berlin-Neurahnsdorf A. Brand [1900]. 220pp. The first true anthology of homosexual writing, produced by the artist and writer and initiated in response to Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. The writers represented include the early Greeks and include Goethe, Verlaine, Adolf Brand (with whom he collaborated on the long-running gay journal, Der Eigene) and numerous others. Von Kupffer's introduction to the book argues that homosexuality is a fundamental part of social life and disparages the idea of a "third sex" advocated by Hirschfeld and others as destructive. The volume was banned by authorities in 1903 and the book has become a great rarity and is an important milestone in gay history and one of the cornerstones of gay literature. The arguments articulated in the book remain as culturally significant as they were in his own day. The volume precedes the other major anthologies in the field, Men and Boys: An Anthology (1924) and Edward Carpenter's Iolaus (who was inspired to collect his material after reading this book). A very good copy in lightly worn contemporary boards, the uncommon wrappers are present and bear the signature of the Romantic writer Peter Hille. The book was published in 1900 by the gay rights crusader Adolf Brand and the sheets were later conveyed to Max Spohr, who re-issued the book under his own imprint. Quite rare. $2000. More
Wien- Zirkus Central
Albert Wainwright (1898-1943) was born in Castleford and studied at Leeds School of Art, where he was friends with fellow student, Henry Moore. He was a prolific artist and illustrator, primarily in a post-Beardsley and Viennese secessionist manner. He found early success with a one-man show in Leeds, at the age of 22, followed by a show at the Goupil Gallery in London. He traveled extensively to Germany and Austria, where these images were created. One verso is another gouache drawing: “Gentleman in traditional costume, Salzburg.” Both images are ink and wash drawings, unframed, unsigned, (25cm x 18cm). More
The Spirit Lamp. An Oxford Magazine
Oxford: James Thornton (20 May 1892; 27 May 1892; #3, #4, (2 issues). Two issues of the Oxford magazine with contributions by divers hands, including poetry, letters and short prose works. Both copies are edge chipped and split at the hinges, but internally very good. Priced as a group. The magazine became infamous during the editorship of Lord Alfred Douglas, who published much Uranian material, including works by Oscar Wilde. More
An Exhibition by Bruce Weber at Fahey Klein
Los Angeles (1991). 4to. Introduction by William Burroughs, and an afterword by the photographer. Very good in stiff wrappers. More
Mildred
Shaftesbury: Privately Printed at the High House Press (1926). 79pp. A memorial book published to commemorate the life of Mildred Olivier, the sister of Edith Olivier, who died at a relatively young age. This is Edith Olivier's first publication, and includes essays by herself, as well as by Dorothea Ponsonby, Cecily Foyle, Brian Howard, Pamela Grey of Fallodan, and several others. Stephen Tennant contributed a drawing for the frontispiece and Edith's close friend Rex Whistler contributed several illustrations in the book. The edition was limited to 112 numbered copies, this is copy number 73. One of the earliest books illustrated by Whistler. Very good in patterned paper boards, light cover wear with a bit of label discoloration. Laid in is a 1 page ALS from Edith Olivier on Daye House stationary regarding the publication of the volume. More
Pressed Wafer
Buffalo: Gallery Upstairs Press (1967). An early collection of poetry, some of which have a gay theme. One of 1,000 copies. Very good in blue wrappers.Young 4106. More
Poems
Dublin: James Duffy. (1864). 233pp. The first edition of Lady Wilde's collection of poems, which bears a printed dedication to her sons Oscar and Willie. Her progressive views on women's rights and Irish independence often involved her in various controversies, but she never altered her views nd was a frequent contributor to progressive magazines. A very good copy in the original decorative green buckram, some wear to covers, gilt edges and titling dulled, occasional light browning. Front endpaper bear a partially erased (and indesipherable inscription. Inscribed by the author on front endpaper to her son Oscar: "For my dear Oscar from his mother." Laid in to the text is a xerox copy of a partial undated letter from Lady Wilde to Oscar, in which she states: ..."but it will not make me happy to know that my two sonsmeet in society and do not speak and are hostile to each other..." At rear is an advertisement for Lady Wilde's 3-vol. "The First Temptation: or, Eritis Sicut Deus", a Philosophical Romance, translated from the German; a novel. Laid in to a marbled clamshell box. More
Berneval: An Unpublished Letter
Edinburgh: Privately Printed (1981). An essay by Jeremy Mason on Wilde's stay in Berneval after his release from prison, with several tipped in photographs and a previously unpublished letter from Wilde to Reggie Turner. One of 70 numbered copies printed letterpress at the Tragara Press, fine in marbled wrappers. More
Echoes from Kottabos
London: Grant Richards (1906). 328pp. There are nine contributions (poems) by Wilde, including "Theocritus" and "The True Knowledge." Very good in gold stamped boards, wear to head and tail of spine, edgewear. More
A Crown of Friendship and other Poems
Taunton: Woodley Williams & Dunsford (1921). 8vo. 62pp. The only published work of the Uranian poet, whose ideal of comradely love parallels that of Edward Carpenter, perhaps with a more passionate dimension. His poems to boyhood love attracted the attention of Edward Slocum, who included examples in his anthology Men & Boys several years later. Very good in red fabric boards, spine sunned, a bit of foxing to foredge. Rare. More