Paris: Obelisk Press (1936)., A quite uncommon novel about Gilles de Rais by the rather obscure poet and translator who was at the center of the Paris expatriates in the 1920s. He was an associate editor at the New Review and translator of a Black Sun edition and an intimate of Jean Cocteau and friends with Hans Henning (Alastair). A very good copy, covers rather sunned , with light edgewear. One of 100 signed and numbered copies, this is copy #1. More
Volume II. London: Printed for E. Curll in Fleet Street (1719). Hardcover. 58pp. A record of the famous Castlehaven sodomy trial in 1631, among a number of similar publications issued by this publisher to exploit the case for his own commercial purposes and which fed on the “sodomite-hunting” that was rampant during the period. The 2nd Earl of Castlehaven was convicted of abetting the rape of his wife and of committing sodomy with his male servants and the trial was a spectacular sex scandal, resulting in the execution of Castlehaven and his servants. Included with this publication is another sensational trial from 1699 involving adultery and divorce of Henry Duke of Norfolk. Contemporary calf boards, front panel missing, front endpaper a bit browned and worn. Rare. More
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
The Hague, Luctor et Emergo (1918). 246pp. François was a Dutch writer and gay activist who also campaigned for social justice in Indonesia. Anders was his first novel with an overtly gay theme and describes in detail how homosexuals lived in the Netherlands before the Second World War. Good in decorative boards by the great Dutch artist W. Arondeus, spine a bit dulled with light spotting, edges a bit dulled but internally very good. More
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
(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
Imprimé sous le manteau et ne se vend nulle part. [Paris: Albert Messein, 1903.] In-12 (183 x 116 mm). The first edition of Verlaine's explicit paean to homosexual love, which includes the "Sonnet au trou-du-cul" written in collaboration with his lover Arthur Rimbaud. The editor Le Dantec refused to include this collection in the modern critical edition of Verlaine's complete works. Enfer 1151. Pia 601 A beautiful copy of the special edition, limited to 25 (this is copy #1), bound in full morocco, signed H. Duhayon, raised bands, edges gilt, original wrappers present, wood slipcase, ex libris of Henri Fischer. With the holograph corrections to the page numbers (46. 47. 48) Van Bever & Monda, p. 67; Carteret Romantique II, p. 435; Paul Verlaine, Oeuvres poétiques complètes, Pléiade, p. 1375; Pia Enfer, 650; Dutel I, p. 170, N° 397*. More
Five of the original photo-engraved printing blocks for the illustrations for the novel. The engraved metal plates are mounted on to the original woodblocks used in the production of the book, all of which bear the title of the book on the side. The plates are in very good condition, several are lightly worn and have residue of the inks used in the letterpress process. All of the blocks are capable of being used for printing in contemporary letterpress printing. Included are the cover illustration for the book and the plates from pages 143, 155, 169 and 207. More
Paris, Sansot, [1919]. 64pp. 16vo. The second ediiton of these poems, originally published in 1907. Very good in lightly worn wrappers. More
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
Leipzig: Max Spohr [1908]. 100pp. One of several books published by the Estonian esthete, artist, and writer and poet, who eventually adopted the name "Elisarion." He studied at St. Petersburg, where he met Eduard von Mayer (1873 - 1960), his life-long partner. Between 1894 and 1897 they traveled throughout Europe and befriended Von Gloeden in Taormina. They eventually sought refuge in Switzerland during the war years and created an extraordinary "Santuarium" in Minusio where Elisarion wrote and painted a number of homoerotic murals. His "Klaristiche" movement there sought to blend together homoeroticism, Greek mythology and medieval codes of chivalry. His work was also published and reviewed in the gay magazine "Akademos" published by Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen. One of Elisarion's more uncommon works, on the Renaissance sculptor Sodoma (Giovan Antonio). A near fine copy in original wrappers, illustrated. Spohr bibliography at 422. More
Eberswalde-Berlin : Jung [c. 1910]. 148pp. A quite uncommon collection of von Kuppfer's poetry (an one "morality fantasy"), most of which is quite homoerotic in tone (including "Antinous," and "Im heim der Liebe"). "Elisarion" as he styled himself, was an accomplished writer, poet and artist, who settled in Locarno, Switzerland, with his lover Eduard von Mayer on 1915 and began a religious movement called "Klarismus" which exalted the beauty of ephebes and sought clarity in daily life. He was also an early homosexual rights activist and penned Lieblingminne und Freundesliebe in der Weltliteratur in 1900, the first published anthology of gay verse, inspiring Edward Carpenter to issue his Iolaus several years late (see #). Published by Max Spohr's influential press, known for issuing many important gay texts. A very good copy, light spotting to front endpaper, front pastedown has some bubbling. The photographic frontispiece bears a printed signature by the author. More
Stockholm: Svanbäcks Boktryckeri (1890). 4to. 67pp. Carl von Platen was a Swedish dilettante nobleman and an amateur photographer who took provocative photographs of young men posing in dresses and swimwear. This penchant led to his being prosecuted for indecency in 1903 and his photographs were seized by the authorities. Thereafter, he spent a period in a private nursing home, then traveled around Europe and wrote travelogues. In 1918, Von Platen was arrested by the police for the second time in Malmö, when he tried to kiss a boy in the Kramer hotel elevator. This edition, a travelogue of sorts, contains 18 photographic images of various locations he encountered in his travels Limited to 100 copies, several penciled corrections to the text, light wear to boards. More
A vintage albumen print of four rather forlorn male nudes posing in an outdoor setting(4" x 6"). The photographer's blue (Rome) stamp on verso. Very good with light crease. The image is likely to date around 1900, when the photographer was working in Rome- he left Italy in 1910. More
London (1948). Welch's last book, published just before his untimely death. A collection of short stories, including the widely respected "When I was Thirteen", hailed by Edmund White and William S. Burroughs. Very good in a very nice Gothic jacket designed by the author, minor edgewear. One of a limited number of copies printed for contintal E#urope and so designated on verson of title page. More
London: Enitharmon Press (1976). A posthumous collection of Welch's intensely personal poetry and a selection of his drawings, with an Introduction by Jean-Louis Chevalier. Mine was a lost and moony life Alone among the fields at night: Or in the loft with the sick smelling apples Blistering along the shelves in the moonlight. Mine was a life all to myself With torn newspaper about my feet, But now I lie beneath this enemy sky At the end of the longest street. Of a total edition of 660 copies, this is one of 60 special numbered copies on blue paper and specially bound. A fine copy. Uncommon. More
Lyon: Archives d'anthropologie Criminelle de Criminologie et de Psychologie normale et Pathologique. Tome XXV; #197 15 Mai 1910. Soft cover. This review contains a chapter of Westermarck's The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas dealing with homosexuality, here translated into French. Exhaustively documented with 228 footnotes. Very good in wrappers, edgewear and light sunning. More
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
Philadelphia: CSM Press (2013). 198pp. A collection of Wilde's writings on dress and fashion, many of which have been inaccesible until now. The book contains generously annotated and illustrated chapters that analyze the importance of dress in the historical context of Wilde's career, together with a comprehensive review of the inspiration, trends, and source material that informed his philosophy. Fine in original boards, one of 100 numbered copies (#92). More
Paris: E. Figuiere [1922]. 168 pp. 2nd ed. Wilde's famous novel, adapted to the theater by Suzanne Mercet. (Although the author notes in the introduction: "Cette pièce n'est pas- une adaptation, c'est une transmutation de l'or pur du roman d Oscar Wilde en une matière dramatique aussi précieuse et aussi brillante, puisqu'il l'avait inconsciemment préparée." Very good in marbled boards, original wrappers present (with cover illustration by "Kit") #966 of an unknown edition Quite uncommon and likely the first dramatic presentation of Wilde's novel in France. More
Three TLS and one typed card from Williams to collector Anthony Reid, all dated 1980. Williams was the longtime principal of the Jargon Society, the important small-press publisher founded in 1951 by Williams. The amusing letters are filled with book gossip and reference Ralph Chubb, Ian Young and a number of shared interests. Very good, laid into a custom paper envelope by Reid, along with his Ralph Chubb bookplate. More
Privately Printed: Monaco (1961). oblong 4to. 1st Edition. Hardcover. The lavishly produced testament to Lopez-Wilshaw's extraordinary home in Neuilly sur Seine. Thirty original photographs by Jean Vincent of the interior decor and gardens are tipped into the text by Philippe Jullian. Printed in two colors on heavyweight Auvergne papers, red silk endpapers. One of 270 copies, this example is #163 with the printed name of the recipient Madame George Lillaz, a Parisian socialite. A near fine copy in cream linen boards, all tissue guards present (some a bit worn at edges). Laid into the box issued with the book, which is lightly worn. More
Quimper (1996). 4to. Illustrated catalog of this artist's work at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Quimper. Fine in wrappers. More
Paris: Chez les marchands de nouveautés, [ND]. 284pp. A quite rare treatise on homosexuality, mistakenly attributed to Liane de Pougy (whose novel L'idylle Saphique was written around the same time.) Only one instiutional copy located at the Bibliothèque Nationale. Very good in slighly marked original wrappers. More
Paris: Tallandier [1938]. 221pp. Novel based on the life and favorites of King Henry III, long reputed to have been homosexual. A contemporary chronicler of the period notes that they made themselves "exceedingly odious, as much by their foolish and haughty demeanour, as by their effeminate and immodest dress, but above all by the immense gifts the king made to them."Very good in illustrated wrappers, light edgewear and browning. Uncommon. More