This silverprint photograph of Sansone in profile (7" x 9") bears several notations on verso- a penciled number ("380") as well as "Tony Sansone/7". Very good, light wear to edges, light small chips at corners. See Massey, American Adonis: Tony Sansone, the First Male Physique Icon,(2004). More about Nude Portrait of Tony Sansone
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 about Anders
(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 about Souvenir Voor Burg
NP: ND [1946]. 2 vols. Louise de Vilmorin (1902-1969) was a French novelist, poet and journalist, known for her mordant wit and various love affairs (including Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Orson Welles, Count Paul Esterhauzy, Duff Cooper and André Malraux). Her works, particularly her most famous novel, Madame de, have been described as possessing a sense of libertinage and impertinence and are often set in aristocratic milieus. She was feared by many and her reputation as "femme de lettres and saloniste, legendary clotheshorse and tastemaker, brilliant hostess and home-wrecking man slayer" remains in tact today. Her most impressive production is this lavishly produced assemblage of 60 original photographs by the decorator and antique dealer Victor Grandpierre, mounted on cardboard with rounded corners and gilded, each of which is accompanied by a short poem by Vilmorin. The photographs are a rather surrealistic assemblage of ordinary household objects, as well as assorted antiques arranged to evoke the spirit of her poetry. Issued in an edition of 225 copies, the book was primarily created as a gift for her friends. Two large clamshell boxes with marbled boards, paper labels. Very good, light edgewear, Quite uncommon. More about L' écho des fantaisies
Paris: Gallimard (1960). One of Vilmorin's later works, a novel dedicated to Alexandre de Manziarly.Inscribed by Vilmorin to what we presume to be Igor and Vera Stravinsky, although the spelling of the surname is somewhat altered.Very good in original wrappers, slight roll to spine. More about Le Violon
Paris: Alphonse Lemerre (1905). 163pp. A collection of poetry bearing a printed dedication to Natalie Barney. A very good copy in original wrappers illustrated by Lévy Dhurmer. Claude Bac @113. More about A l'Heure des Mains Jointes
Paris: Sansot (1910) 103pp. A collection of twenty-four poems by the lesbian poet, published the year after her death. Vivien is perhaps best known for her tortured relationships with Natalie Barney and the Baroness Hélène van Zuylen and her drug addictions. One of fifty numbered copies (#22) printed on Japon. Very good in decorative wrappers. (Goujon, 43; Bac, p. 161). More about Le Vent des vaisseaux
Paris: Alphonse Lemerre (1904). 195pp. A near fine copy of this poetry collection, pages uncut in the illustrated wrappers by Lévy-Dhurmer. The seventh publication of the poet, bearing a printed dedication to her lover Natalie Barney. Claude bac @91. More about La Vénus des Aveugles
Paris (2006). 32pp. Soft cover. Catalogue of an exhibition of Voinquel's photographs, with numerous reproductions: Cocteau, Piaf, Audrey Hepburn, Gerard Philipe, Arletty, Orson Welles and others. More about Je Sais Saluer la Beauté
An original vintage portrait (c. 1890-1900) of a male youth, mostly likely "Ahmed" who appears in other images by the photographer. (9" x 6.25") mounted on a sheet from a photography album. More about Portrait of Ahmed
Bruxelles: Imprimerie Félix Callewaert Père (1885). 2nd ed. 4to. 193pp. A quite uncommon gay novel by the twenty-five year old Warlomont, which bears a printed dedication to his friend and fellow Symbolist, Josephin Péladan. The author died several years later after editing the journal La Jeune Belgique, which became the voice for a younger generation of writers and poets in Belgium. One of three hundred copies (this unnumbered) in bound in 1/4 morocco and marbled paper boards and endpapers, light scuffing to edges. Library stamp on title page, light foxing to endpapers and throughout. More about Lysiane de Lysias
Boston: Merrymount Press (1900). Perhaps the best of Warren's writings, a short story based (arguably) on a similar story by Oscar Wilde. Warren is known for his sale of classical antiquities and the Lewes House brotherhood of aesthetes, as well as his several books of Uranian poetry. One of 300 numbered copies printed by D.B. Updike and illustrated by Arthur Gaskin, covers and spine lightly borwned, light scratch to cover. Uncommon. More about The Prince Who Did Not Exist
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 about Dumb Instrument
London [1944]. Welch contributes his poem "For a Drowned Friend" to this short lived ( 2 issues) poetry magazine. Fair in rather stained and worn wrappers. Rare. More about Dint: anthology of modern poetry
London: Bertram Rota (1993). A recollection by Laurence Whistler, illustrated with two images and printed in an edition of 150 copies (this being #20). Printed letterpress and sewn into illustrated yellow wrappers. More about A Sample of Aesop
New York (1988). Hardcover. Touted by some as the best novel about sexual awakening since Catcher in the Rye. Inscribed by the author on title page. Very good in very good jacket. More about The Beautiful Room in Empty
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 about Berneval: An Unpublished Letter
Chicago: National Music Co. [1883]. 5pp. Rare musical score with lyrics by Oscar Wilde and music by Edwin Christie. likely spurious("The Western wind is blowing fair/She will not come, I know her well..." This was probably produced during or shortly after Wilde's tour of the US, intended to cash in on his acclaim. Large format, folded with some edgewear. More about Loved For Evermore. Serenade for Alto or Bass
Philadelphia: J.M. Stoddart (1882). Hardcover. Wilde contributed the foreword to this eccentrically produced book of poetry, which he arranged the publication for while in America. Rodd and Wilde had been close companions for some time, but this book prompted their estrangement. One of an unknown ediiton of deluxe copies, printed on one side of each leaf only in brown ink on thin handmade parchment paper, interleaved with green tissue paper, bound in vellum, top edges gilt. Very good, vellum a bit darkened, small portion of front pastedown missing. Uncommon. More about Rose Leaf and Apple Leaf
William Reeves: London (1895). The first ediiton of this scarce pamphlet presenting "some considerations in opposition to the mass of general vituperation with which the irresponsible public has thought fit to demonstrate its own virtue and superiority to the author of Dorian Gray." Mason 679. Light brown wrappers, a bit of sunning to wrappers. More about Apologia Pro Oscar Wilde
Lyon: Archives d'anthropologie Criminelle de Criminologie et de Psychologie normale et Pathologique 15 april 1912 (#220). Tome XXVII. The author reviews the medical literature in Germany on sexological issues, with a particular discussion of the work of Magnus Hirschfeld. Very good in wrappers, light sunning and edgewear. More about Publications allemandes sur les questions sexuelles
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 about
Paris: Calmann-Lévy (1905) (2e édition). 318pp. Hélène Betty Louise Caroline de Zuylen de Nyevelt de Haar, née de Rothschild (1863-1947) was a lover of Renée Vivien, with whom she published a number of books under the pseudonym Paule Riversdale. She also published several works under her own name and this is one of the few novels that she penned. Very good in crimson morocco binding, signed Creuzevault with lovely engraved doublures, silk endpapers, top edge gilt, original wrappers present, some spotting to foredge. Laid into the book is a 1 page ALS from Nyevelt to an unknown recipient (date 2 April 1907).Uncommon. More about L'impossible sincérité
Paris: Alphonse Lemerre [ca. 1912] 5th ed. One of two novels written by the lesbian heiress and one of her last publications. The novel begins in Port Saïd and follows the wanderings of Prince Charles-Auguste de Lindenfels throughout the Far East with a shifting ensemble of wealthy expatriates. Very good in 1/4 leather and marbled boards, original wrappers not present. Warmly inscribed by the author in her usual purple ink on endpaper. Uncommon. More about La Derniere Étreinte
