Bruxelles: Imprimerie particulière (1925). The original edition of these three erotic poems appeared under a false date and publisher in 1923 in an edition of 150 copies. This edition is limited to 30 copies (#18) and contains the controversial Sonnet du Trou du Cul. Not listed in Pia, nor do we find any institutional copies. Very good in paper wrappers, lightly browned, a few small stains to prelims.
Four original photographs of young men (5" x 7") by Marot, the French photographer of the late 1970s and 1980s known for his candid portrayals of boys, often in incongruous settings. Each photograph is signed "Marot '82" and mounted on card stock.
Los Angeles: Black Sparrow (1972). A collection of Tyler's poems, some of which appeared in literary magazines in his early career. Tyler was the co-founder of the surrealist View magazine and one of the first critics of experimental cinema. One of 200 signed copies in boards, frontispiece by his friend Pavel Tchelitchew. Very good, very light sunning to edges, glassine jacket.
Madrid: Aldeasa (2004). 315pp. The extensive illustrated exhibition catalog from the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía of Le-Tan's illustrations, many reproduced in color. Essays by Modiano. Patrick Mauries, Jose Llop and others. Near fine in wrappers. Uncommon.
A collection of 12 vintage postcards of young male Arab boys, most of which bear a designation by Lehnert & Landgrock, who popularized such images in the early years of the twentieth century. All are in very good condition, several bear inscriptions on versos and most bear the firm's stock number. Severl bear titles, such as "Jeune Arab", "Cairo- The little Shoeblack", etc.
Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press (1950). 56pp. A collection of poetry by the New Orleans native with an introduction by Tennessee Williams. Warmly inscribed by the author to the Neo-Romantic painter Pavel Tchelitchew on front endpaper. Very good in very good jacket, with light rubbing.
New York (1924). 83pp. The first, and extremely uncommon, anthology of homosexual literature to be published in America. The author, a professional chemist and graduate of Columbia University, compiled the anthology anonymously and remains somewhat of a mystery today. His identity has been revealed by the research of several scholars (notably Timothy d'Arch Smith and Donald Mader) and the story of the anthology has been discussed in the only reprint of the edition (Coltsfoot Press, 1978). The anthology commences with works from ancient Hebrew literature and progresses throught the poetry of the 1920s. Included are a selection of known Uranian poets, such as Digby Mackworth Dolben, Edward Cracroft Lefroy, Edward Emmanuel Bradford, John Gambril Nicholson, John Moray Stuart-Young, Edmund John, "Philebus" (John Leslie Barford) and John Addington Symonds. But there are also some surprising contributions from more traditional poets, such as Ernest Myers, William Alexander Percy, James Fennimore Cooper, Jr., Victor Starbuck, Katherine Mansfield, Willard Wattles as well as the anthologist himself. Described by Timothy d'Arch Smith as a "startingly thorough and well-informed anthology" it remains a classic in the field of gay literature and a cornerstone of collecting in the field. According to a prospectus issued by the anthologist, the book was issued in an edition of 150 copies, but relatively few are known to exist. This is a very good copy with the original uncommon half-title page (referencing the author's pseudonym and identifying the work as a scholarly dissertation), a few penciled notations in text. Laid in is a 1pp typescript of three poems that are included in the text on page 64, perhaps by Slocum. This copy bears an inscription from the author to Herbert Boyce Satcher (signed "E.E." [his pseudonym Edwin Edwinstone]). Satcher and Slocum were friends and shared similar homosexual interests. See Rosenthal, An Arcadian Photographer in Manhattan for a thorough examination of Slocum's work.
London: The Academy Publishing Company (1909). 30pp. The first collection of these sonnets, which include one dedicated to his soon to be estranged wife Olive Custance. Good in buff paper boards, bookplate on pastedown, some staining and wear to covers. Warmly inscribed to Christopher Jarchow (in 1931). Custom chemise and slipcase.
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.
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).
A 3 pp. holograph letter dated 16 June 1963 from Toklas to her longtime friend and collaborator Sir Francis Cyril Rose. The letter references an Introduction that Toklas was preparing for one of Rose's publications, her legal troubles keeping the Stein-Toklas flat on rue Christine, her friend Jo Barry and various other matters. Toklas and Stein met Rose in the 1930s and maintained a close relationship until their deaths. Very good in original envelope.
London : John F. Shaw and Co., [1887]. 383pp. An historical novel about Gavestone, the favorite of King Edward II. It was alleged by medieval chroniclers that Edward II and Piers Gaveston were lovers, a rumour that was reinforced by later portrayals in fiction, such as Christopher Marlowe's late 16th-century play Edward II. An uncommon book, very good in illustrated boards, with light wear.
Toulon, G. Mouton 1927 (3rd). This collection of Provencal recipes bears the signature of Richard Olney on endpaper (along with the stamp of Time-Life books). Original wrappers present, rebound in maroon buckram.
Lisbao: Olisipo (1922). The second edition of these controversial poems, many of which are explicitly homosexual in content and which created a furor when published in this ediiton. The previous year, Botto had published the first edition of the poems, which were largely ignored until his friend Fernando Pessoa issued the present edition under his Olisipo imprint and publicly praised the poems. Conservatives reacted strongly against the poems, calling them "sodom's literature" and the book was banned by the authorities in 1923. Catholic college students clamored for a burning of the book, but Botto refused to apologize for his work. Botto was openly homosexual throughout his life and later struggled to survive by writing children's books and short essays. Pessoa, Portugal's pre-eminent modernist literary figure, considered Botto the only Portuguese poet worthy of the label "aesthete" and, as a critic and publisher, championed his work. Pessoa translated the poems into English, which were eventually published in 1948 (see below). To publicize the book, Pessoa wrote a provocative article, published in the journal Comtemporânea, (see below) praising the author’s courage and sincerity for shamelessly singing homosexual love as a true aesthete. Pessoa's article prompted the critic Alvaro Maia to excoriate Botto’s work, which was then followed by another article by Raul Leal (an openly homosexual writer, friend of Pessoa). Conservatives reacted and complained to the authorities about the work’s immorality ("Sodom's literature") and the book was confiscated by the authorities in 1923. The Liga de Acção dos Estudantes de Lisboa [Lisbon Students Action League], a Catholic college students group (lead by Pedro Teotónio Pereira) clamored for an auto-da-fé of Botto's book and someone even suggested the author should be hanged. Nevertheless, most artists and intellectuals promptly took up his defence in several polemic articles. Eventually, the scandal subsided, the next year the ban was lifted and until the end of his life Botto would publish several revised versions of the book. His work was applauded by Antonio Machado, Miguel de Unamuno, Camilo Pessanha, Virginia Woolf, Teixeira de Pascoaes, José Régio, Luigi Pirandello, Stefan Zweig, Rudyard Kipling, James Joyce and Federico García Lorca. A very good copy in the original printed wrappers, with the original frontispiece photograph of the author, bound in later marbled boards. A laudatory review of Botto's work by Jayme de Balsemão appears at the end of the book. His work has been widely praised by fellow writers, including James Joyce among others. See also, Leal, Sodoma Divinisada, (see below) which praises Botto's courage for writing about gay subjects.
Paris: L'édition d'art H. Piazza (1933). This classic guide to French gastronomy is illustrated by numerous plates. Introduction by Sacha Guitry. Very good in buckram boards with light wear, original wrappers present (front wrapper is soiled on foredge) Richard Olney's copy, with his signature on endpaper and his occasional marks in the margins of some recipes.
Paris: Librairie Henri Aniere (1928). 650pp. The classic book of French cuisine, illustrated throughout by line drawings of assorted preparations. This copy bears the penciled signature of noted American cook and food writer Richard Olney on the front endpaper, as well as the bookplate of the doyenne of English cooking, Elizabeth David. Olney and David were close friends and the book was no doubt a gift to Olney. A fair/good copy, red boards a bit marked, head of spine has small tears, front hinge splitting.
Paris: 1939. 34pp. The first French translation (by Henri Parisot) of this work, issued in an edition of 150 copies. Very good in original wrappers, occasional light spotting. Uncommon.
Paris Issue 6: 15 Juin (1909). FERSEN, Jacques d'Adelsward. Akademos: Revue Mensuelle d'Art Libre et de Critique. Paris Issue 5: 15 Mai 1909. . Akademos: Revue Mensuelle d'Art Libre et de Critique. Paris (15 Janvier 1909). 160pp. Issue Number 5 of this short-lived monthly literary review, considered one of the first gay magazines published. Very good in original wrappers, light browning and edgewear, occasional spotting.
Paris Issue 5: 15 Mai 1909. Akademos: Revue Mensuelle d'Art Libre et de Critique. Paris (15 Janvier 1909). 160pp. Issue Number 5 of this short-lived monthly literary review, considered one of the first gay magazines published. Very good in original wrappers, light browning and edgewear, occasional spotting.
Milano (2000). 24pp. A small artist's book by Rognoni, based upon imaginary wanderings of Wilde in assorted locations with 10 color illustrations. One of 50 copies issued, fine in wrappers with light stain to rear cover. Signed by the artist on first page.
An original vintage sepia photograph (6.25" x 8.5") of a nude male holding a palm frond, mounted on an album leaf.
A vintage 1930s photograph of Tony Sansone (9.5" x 7.5") taken by Townsend, who produced many images of the bodybuilder and gay icon. Very good, unmounted.
Original large format vintage photograph of a young man posed nude on rocks with his head on his knees, with D'Agata's studio stamp on verso, 14.5 x 11 in.
[Minusio] : Edizioni del Comune di Minusio (2011). 93pp. A heavily illustrated exhibition catalog of the life and work of Elisar von Kupffer and his lover Edward Mayer. His former home in Minusio was largely destroyed by municipal authorities in recent years and now houses traveling exhibitions of unrelated material. Fine as issued.
Paris: Figuiere [1916]. 30pp. A short play script/poem about a romantic drama among two men and a women. Bound in handmade boards, title written on cover, long inscription by the author on endpaper, along with an original drawing adhered to front pastedown, tassled thread, bookplate of Octave Chavaillon. Laid in at rear is a 4pp (1 sheet folded) printed collection of five sonnets entitled "Antinous", each of which are initialed by the author, who has also inscribed and numbered the collection. A curious publication-we can find no example in any institution, nor any other works published by the author.
