Leipzig Klinkhardt [1920]. 62pp. Essays on the future of love after the Great War. Stocker, a feminist and sexual reformer and the first woman on the board of Magnus Hirschfeld's SHC. Here discusses the ethics of having relationships with enemy soldiers and other ethical quandaries. Very good in somewhat browned wrappers, pages uncut, first page has a small closed tear. Uncommon. More
Toronto (2001). Soft cover. Gay fiction by several hands. Fine in wrappers. One of 26 copies issued. More
A small collection of 12 printed ephemeral items, Christmas cards, and assorted other printed matter from one of the great Dutch printers. Many of the items are hand-colored and several are signed by the publisher/printer Ger Gleis. Works by James Purdy, William Blake, Sandro Penna and others are included. All near fine. Along with R. Breugelmans' bibliography of the press, 107 maal: Sub Signo Libelli (1/400 numbered copies). More
London: Alpine Club (1972). More than 40 images of works by Tchelitchew are reproduced in this uncommon exhibition catalog from the Alpine Gallery. Richard Nathanson contributes an Introduction and Dame Sitwell contributes an Appreciation. Fine in wrappers. More
London: Alpine Club (1972). Soft cover. Forty illustrated works, many of which were unpublished. Very good in wrappers. Uncommon. More
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
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
Paris (1909) #422. 4to. This edition of L'Assiette au Beurre, the long running satirical French magazine, presents a number of images of stereotypical effeminate gay men in various social settings. Very good in lightly worn covers. Numerous illustrations. Uncommon. 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
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
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
Paris: Alphonse Lemerre (1904). 190pp. An anthology of Greek poetry compiled by Vivien and illustrated with seven engravings of works by Lévy-Dhurmer. A very good copy in original illustrated wrappers by Lévy-Shurmer, pages uncut. Claude Bac @97. More
Amsterdam: Chez les héritiers de M.-M. Rey (1784). 136pp. The first appearance of this highly controversial memoir about Voltaire's complicated relationship with the eccentric Frederick the Great. The book's scandalous revelations about Frederick's homosexuality caused an immediate uproar and the book was banned in France. Despite the fact that Voltaire had died in 1778, there is considerable evidence that Voltaire had intended for the book to be published in his lifetime. See Lee, An American Voltaire- Essays @ 240-243. Very good in lightly worn 3/4 morocco boards, marbled endpapers, booksellers ticket on front paste down, silk marker. Quite rare. More
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
An original pen and ink drawing of a German soldier, signed and dated 1918. The sketch was done on a "carte postale militaire" dated 3 August 1914, so perhaps the (unknown) artist was a French soldier mocking German "Kultur" in the form of an effeminate infantryman. Very good, light wear to edges. More
Blackwell's: Oxford (1922). 110pp. Classical tales retold by this aesthete of the Lewes Brotherhood, art collector and Uranian author. Very good in blue boards, spine label worn, light edgewear. Uncommon. More
London: Elkin Matthews (1913). 32pp. sm. 8vo. Sandys Wason was a contemporary of Lord Alfred Douglas at Oxford and, along with him, one of the founders of the short-lived and controversial literary magazine, The Spirit Lamp. This small collection of poetry is heterogenous, but has a faintly religious tone. He later became a priest in Cornwall but was was removed from his post for "doctrinal and liturgical disobedience."Very good in brown boards, light cover wear. Quite uncommon. More
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
Upsala: Esaias Edquist (1880). 38pp. Carl Pontus Wikner (19 May 1837 - 16 May 1888) was a famed Swedish lecturer in philosophy and is considered one of the founders of the homosexual liberation movement in Sweden. Against the argument that homosexuality is unnatural, he answered that only that which according to the laws of nature cannot occur is unnatural. And nothing is bad which does not injure or harm any person. He pleaded to all future readers to give homosexuals the right to get married. Very good in original wrappers, small closed tears to covers. Rare. 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
Portland, Maine Thomas B. Mosher (1903). Three-quarter crushed blue morocco binding, gilt top edge, marbled endpapers. A very nice copy, spine a little sunned, bookplate. Limited to 600 copies printed on Van Gelder Paper. More
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
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
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