Paris: Galeries Durand-Ruel (1910). 8pp. The catalog for Brooks' first exhibition, which included 13 works and established her reputation as an artist in Paris. The catalog contains and effusive essay by Roger Marx, one of the foremost critics of his day and a proponent of the avant-garde. Quite rare. More
Paris: Mercure de France (1912). One of Cocteau's earliest publications, written when he was only 23. He had already befriended Marcel Proust, Andre Gide and many in the artistic and fashion worlds when he met the American painter Romaine Brooks, who painted his portrait in 1912. This collection of poems bears a warm dedication from Cocteau to Brooks referencing the portrait. Very good in original wrappers, small chips at corners and edges, small stain on cover. More
Paris: Louis Cellot (1765). 32pp. The first edition of this legal brief regarding the trial of Anne Grandjean (later Jean-Baptiste), who was born and raised as a girl. At age 14, she discovered her attraction to other girls and her sympathetic father had her re-baptised as Jean-Baptiste, insisting she live as a young man. Later in life, while living as a married man in Lyon, a childhood friend informed Jean-Baptiste's wife that she had married a 'hermaphrodite'. She was subjected to judicial scrutiny and was declared to be female and required to live as a woman and have no further congress with the female sex for the rest of their life. The official memoir of the case is thus a remarkable source of detail concerning contemporary orthodox notions of sex and gender, of particular interest in the current age. Very good, signature on title page, original wrappers have large been excised. More
Barcelona: Scientia (1934). 79pp. One of a series of books about deviant sexuality published during this period. Very good in wrappers, light edgewear, browning to spine. Uncommon. More
London: Ernest Benn (1924). The Rat Trap is a four-act drama by Noël Coward, his 'first really serious attempt at psychological conflict', written when he was only 18. Inscribed by Coward on the front endpaper to Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, one of the Bright Young Things and doyenne of transatlantic high society (and sister to the Surreast collector Edward James). Very good in blue linen boards, light edge wear, browning to spine label, corner of rear board bumped. More
Frankfurt (1590-1594). 9 1/4" x 13 5/8" 1594. This engraving is from Theodor De Bry's important historical work, Grands Voyages. This from the German edition with this particular engraving being published in Frankfurt between 1590 and 1594 for de Bry by J. Feyrabend. Grands Voyages is considered one of the most remarkable collections of voyages published in the Age of Discovery. Believed to be the first representation of homosexuality ever printed, the engraving depicts a gory scene of eight Spanish conquistadores watching their dogs kill a group of Indians. Balboa set his dogs on forty to fifty people of Quarequa described as being “dressed as women” (Martyr 1912 [1516]:285), or having committed the nefarious sin (pecado nefando). See https://www.colorado.edu/genders/2016/05/19/los-huecos-negros-cannibalism-sodomy-and-failure-modernity-tierra-firme. The text includes the following statement: "Greatly astonished he [Balboa] ...understood that the kinglet and all of his courtiers were smitten by that abominable crime against nature so stunned him ...that he went up to forty of the savages, bade them all be seized and bringing in the dogs he ordered the savages be torn to pieces." Very good, light wear and yellowing. Rare. More
Vancouver, B.C.: William Hoffer (1984). Originally published in 1903, this new edition contains two appendices and an introduction by Barry Asker. One of 106 numbered copies printed. An attractively produced book with textured silk-covered boards, titling on orange labels on spine and front, orange end papers, leading text-block edge untrimmed. Fine. More
SURFERS, SANTA MONICA, c.1940s, silver gelatin print, on carte postale style paper, possible a test print from an edition of /36, with photographers credit stamp verso. Doctor Donald Don James (died December 24, 1996[1]) was a pioneer of early surfing in California prior to the WWII and surf photographer. His published works include many 1960s surf magazine covers. The early 1990s brought a resurgence of long board surfing and with it, a new 1992 VHS video titled Dr. "Don James presents: Surfing in the 1930s". It premiered pre World War II color footage of surfing to the surfing industry and a verbal history of the golden age of surfing / produced by Brad Jennings and Gene Walper / 1992/93, Other separate projects included The books: "Prewar Surfing" and "1936-1942 San Onofre to Point Dume".[1] James began surf photography while he was in high school, taking pictures of his pals, Ed Faron, the Quigg brothers, Bud Rice and the Beach Boys from the Bel Air Bay Club in Santa Monica. During the post Gidget era his talents appeared in commercials and on posters, Don James has been described as "The Premier Photographer of Surfing".[1]. More
Uitgeverij De Harmonie (1995). 76pp. The first appearance of this novella by the author of The Two Hotel Francforts, The Indian Clerk, The Lost Language of Crane, among others. The work was later included in his collection, Arkansas. One of 125 copies printed in English, inscribed on the title page. Laid in is a postcard from the author. Fine in wrappers. More
New York (1955). This original signed silkscreen serigraph work by Paul Cadmus was included in Donald Windham's short story, Servants with Torches. Issued in an edition of 100 copies for sale, this example is #32. Many copies were damaged by water and both the serigraph and book are uncommon. Very good (7" x 10"), signed by Cadmus at lower right. More
Oxford: Thos. Shrimpton and Son (1878). 8vo. The first edition of Wilde’s first work published in book form and the winner of the Newdigate Prize Poem competition in 1878 that was awarded to students at the University of Oxford for the Best Composition in English verse. “During a vacation ramble in 1877 he started for Greece, [and] visiting Ravenna by chance on the way, he obtained material for a poem on that ancient city, and singularly enough ‘Ravenna’ was afterwards given out as the topic for the Newdigate competition” (The Aesthetic Movement in England by Walter Hamilton, 1882). The subject was to be confined to the study of the ancient Greek and Roman remains of architecture, sculpture, and painting that was to be written in heroic couplets. Wilde’s success was announced on June 10 and advertised in the Oxford University Gasette (viii, 293, p. 451) on June 18th. In the same issue it was announced that the winners will recite their prized entries at the Hall of New College. “One of the Professor’s [of Poetry] duties is to suggest textual improvements to the Winner of the Newdigate. The amendments proposed are usually accepted with gratitude; but there have been exceptions to the rule. Shairp suggested many improvements in Oscar Wilde’s Ravenna. Wilde listened to all suggestions with courtesy and even took notes of them, but he went away and printed the poem without making a single alteration in it” (The Academy, February 17, 1906). Mason 301. Foolscap 8vo. Original publisher’s printed wrappers (slightly toned at edges, else fine); folding hardcover chemise. Provenance: George Cukor (bookplate on chemise). More
Barcelona : Tip. La Educación, 1943. Very good in wrappers- the cover wrapper has a printed image that is pasted to the cover. More
Bonn: Marcus & Webers Verlag (1919-20). A collection of essays on sexology, including one by the gay rights' advocate, Numa Praetorius (Eugene Wilhelm) "Das Liebesleben Lidwigs XIII von Frenkreich". Marcuse was an editor for Magnus Hirschfeld’s Journal of Sexology in 1919 and continued editing the journal until 1932. Very good in orange wrappers, light wear to rear covers, pages uncut, wear to spine. More
München : Delphin-Verlag, [1925]. 150pp. Giese (1890-1935) was a German psychologist who dealt in particular with psychotechnology . Giese describes the differences between the ideals of beauty in America versus Europe and conjures a variety of explanations, including eugenics and various business models. deal with everything from victory in war to differences in business models. Very good in good (worn at edges with small tears, etc). Uncoommon. More
Scrapbook prepared by Cecil Beaton over the period 1935-1944, with some later inclusions. Decorated paper over boards, cloth spine lettered "Scrap Book." 14 1/4 x 11 3/4 inches (35 x 20 cm); 50 ff., with mounted newspaper clippings (most poignantly those dealing with the death of his friend, the artist Rex Whistler), notes and letters received by Beaton (including a five-page letter from the poet and Surrealist Edward James, among others), telegrams and bills, fair copies in his hand (some extending for pages) of texts that interested him, etc. etc. Some leaves with evidence of extractions, some loose clippings, some later and unrelated material laid in at front. The sections in Beaton's hand include a three-quarter page section of observations on roses in art; a four-page copy of a work by Norah Lindsay "Summer Roses of Long Ago;" a sheet laid in with copies of four of Shakespeare's sonnets; and another with an unidentified quotation; and a typed sheet of musings on Beaton's 8 Pelham Place stationery (his London address). Beaton scrapbooks are rare in commerce. Sold with a copy of Beaton. The Art of the Scrapbook, Assouline/Knopf 2002. More
London: Heinemann (1901). According to the closeted author's preface, this fantasy is set on an island hitherto inhabited by Lutherans, in a remote but temperate province of Northern Europe. Very good in white parchment binding, top edge gilt. Bookplate of collector Herbert Boyce Satcher on front pastedown. More
Privately printed for Alan Clodd (1965). 5pp. An early short work by Firbank, with an introduction by his biographer, Miriam Benkovitz. One of 50 numbered copies issued, fine in wrappers. More
Paris: Heugel, [1895]. 4to. Léon Delafosse (1874 – 1951) was a French composer and pianist, generally considered the model for the character of Charles Morel, a violinist portrayed in Marcel Proust's novel In Search of Lost Time. He had been an intimate in the Proust/Montesquiou circle and had his portrait painted by John Singer Sargent in The charming young pianist was nicknamed "the Angel," and was a favorite attraction at the salons of the most elite patrons of music in both Paris and London until he fell out of favor with Proust and his friends. This musical score was created at the height of his success and friendship with Montesquiou, whose poems include "Mauve" and "Baiser" (dedicated to Proust). Good in original decorative wrappers, small closed tears at edges, foxing throughout. This is the dedication copy, warmly inscribed on endpaper by Delafosse to his patron Montesquiou in December of 1894. Bound with Poème des mois, calendrier de Robert de Montesquieu, mis en musique par Raoul Brunel (Paris : A. Leduc, [1905]. The musical scores are dedicated to a number of Montesquiou's society friends, including the Comtesse Greffulhe and the Comtesse Jean de Castellane and others. More
Paris: Imprimerie nationale 1923. 4to. 179pp. The only published work by the author was the daughter of Count Henry Greffulhe and his wife, Élisabeth de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay (said to be a model for the Duchess of Guermantes in Marcel Proust’s novel, À la recherche du temps perdu). Proust attended her wedding in 1904 and his appearance was apparently caught on film. Robert de Montesquiou, a cousin, has contributed an introduction. Very good in marbled wrappers, light wear. Quite rare with only two institutional copies located. More
Paris: Salt & Cedar (2021). A boxed artist's multiple, les années 20, that features the addresses of a dozen luminaries inhabiting the Left Bank in the 1920's, printed as slim calling cards with one-line addresses. A hand-typeset ‹key› reveals the studios and salons of Sylvia Beach, Man Ray, James Joyce, Zelda & F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas and others in their networks, along with the names of the rare fonts used. All wrapped in a vintage Japanese gossamer. Printed on a FAG Swiss proofing press. Contents laid into a bespoke box produced in Stockholm. One of 140 copies issued by this creative press. More
Montrouge : Draeger frères, 1924. — In-folio. 312: (4 ff. First white), 11 plates, illustrated cover. In sheets, under shirt with jacket adorned with a typographic decoration. Prestigious catalog glorifying the graphic arts industries through a leading collaboration between the printer Draeger, the writer Jean Cocteau and the artist Charles Martin. The text is a treasure trove of typographic presentation and calls out to advertisers to encourage them to have Draeger catalogs edited. It is followed by 11 boards designed by Charles MARTIN (1884-1934) in the purest Art Deco spirit. "This catalog is the perfect celebration, never equaled, of the publishing professions, as well as one of the most prestigious DRAEGER albums" (Forney exhibition 1988, n ° 82). A few spots and pitting on the dust jacket and a few small freckles scattered on the boards. More
Paris: Roving Eye Press, 1931. Bob Brown, ed, Readies for Bob Brown's Machine (1931). Roving Eye Press, 1931. A very scarce anthology or collection, printed in France, with contributions (often brief) from the likes of Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, Kay Boyle, James T Farrell, Gertrude Stein, et al. Condition: Good, with chipping and splitting to paper at spine ends, droplet spotting and discoloration on front wrap. More
Jersey: Purple Sandpiper Press (2003). 8pp. A collection of poems dedicated to Alan Clodd, accompanied by artwork by Edouard Tanguy. Limited to 100 copies, and twenty signed silk bound copies (of which this is #3). Very good in elaborate silk boards, inscribed by the author on colophon page. More
Jersey: Purple Sandpiper Press (1999). 8pp. A collection of poems, accompanied by artwork by Edouard Tanguy. Limited to 100 signed copies, and thirty signed silk bound copies (of which this is one). Very good in elaborate silk boards encrusted with glitter and plastic gems. Inscribed by the author. More
Corbeil: Impr. Crété ; Paris : R. Saillard (1937). 190pp. A biographical novel about sailors with gay elements by the author of the controversial Chez les Mauvais Garçons. Very good in wrappers. Inscribed on front endpaper to Georges Lecante of the Academie Francaise, library stamp on endpaper. More