Erotica from Quercus Rare Books

London and Benares: Cosmopoli: For the Kama Shastra Society, 1885. Burton always had an interest in Eastern erotica; this is his translation from Sanskrit of a 15th Century work. In order to avoid Victorian charges of obscenity they were usually issued "for subscribers only." Here Burton and Arbuthnot disguised themselves by inverting their initials.[one wonders who might have been fooled].… Read more about this item

London and Paris, 1900. Hector France (1837-1908) was a soldier and well-known writer of erotica. First published in 1881 as "Sous le Burnous," and issued in English by several publishers. This is a Very Good copy of such "Printed for Subscribers Only." Nicely patterned boards in blue, green, and magenta. Clean text; 447 pages. Translation by Alfred Allison [not credited]… Read more about this item

New York: Three Sirens Press, 1932. Michael Artzibashev (1878-1927) first published this scandalous mix of sex and anarchist philosophy in 1907. It was censored and condmned as pornographic, but is rather mild by today's standards. This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of an edition that is LIMITED to 1500 copies. Tan cloth binding, with a green suade spine; titled… Read more about this item

Cosmopoli: Kama Shastra Society of London and Benares, 1891. Burton's famous translation was first published in 1886 by the nonexistant "Kama Shastra Society" formed to evade the restrictions imposed by the Obscene Publications Act of 1857. He was working on a revision at the time of his death. In one of the great acts of literary vandalism, Lady Burton and… Read more about this item

Cosmopoli: Kama Shastra Society of London and Benares, 1886. Burton's translation of this erotic work is the first one in English; it had been made into French in 1876, in a tiny run. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition, "for Private circulation only." One of the two known variant bindings: marbled paper-covered boards, with tips… Read more about this item

Cosmopoli: Kama Shastra Society, 1885. This is a Near Fine copy of the first English translation of the now-famous "Art of Love," done for the Kama Shastra Society ("for private circulation only") by F.F. Arbuthnot and Sir Richard Francis Burton. Only the letters of their names appear on the Title Page. The First Edition (1873) was less than ten copies,… Read more about this item

(New York): The Bibliophilist Society, 1931. First published in 1724, this was Defoe's final novel, in the same vein as his "Moll Flanders," written two years earlier. A popular 18th Century theme was the decline of a young woman into harlotry, allowing some moralizing along with titilation. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition Thus, an… Read more about this item

New York: The Olympia Press, Inc., 1968. A reissue of the Traveller's Companion edition (#92) from 1963. This is a Near Fine copy of the First Edition Thus ("...especially designed and bound for the members of The Olympia Book Society." Dark blue cloth binding with fancy gilt decorations and titling on the front cover and spine. Clean text; 246 pages.Green… Read more about this item

Nesor Publishing Co., 1930. This is a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of the First Edition Thus, a pirate edition attributed to the rather notorious pornographic publisher Samuel Roth (1893-1974). Variant maroon cloth binding with gilt titling on the spine. Clean text; 316 pages; owner signature on the FFEP. There is no publication date, but the dustjacket… Read more about this item

New York: William Faro, Inc., 1932. Notorious erotica publisher Samuel Roth also wrote "sequels" to his successful pirated editions of D.H. Lawrene's work. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. Black cloth binding with a paper label on the spine. Clean text; 216 pages.Corners are bumped, and there is wear to the head and foot of the… Read more about this item

New York: American Ethnological Press, 1934. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the First Edition Thus, printed "for subscribers only" in an edition LIMITED to 600 copies. Translated from the original German by David Berger. Beautiful deorative paper-covered boards (a floral garden motif, of course) with a green cloth spine; gilt lettering on the spine. Clean text; 443… Read more about this item

New York: Boni & Liveright, 1925. Here is a beautiful set of Boccaccio's erotic masterpiece, number 62 in an edition LIMITED to 1000 copies that have been SIGNED by the publisher. Large, heavy octavos, "For Subscribers Only". Dark green cloth bindings, ruled, with a gilt medalion of the author on the front cover; gilt lettering on the spine. The Translation… Read more about this item

New York: Willey Book Company, 1948. An erotic novel of life in a brothel that was first published in 1930, then reprinted by Triangle during the Second World War - no doubr giving comfort to many a GI far from home. This is the postwar reprint. Gray cloth binding with red lettering on the spine. Clean text; 288 pages. Great… Read more about this item

New York: The Pierre Louys Society, 1927. Gautier's romantic erotic novel has been reprinted many times. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition Thus, "Privately Printed" for "The Pierre Louys Society" in a LIMITED EDITION of 1250 copies (960 For America). Highly decorative binding in gold and purple; the spine is olive green linen (faded to more… Read more about this item

London: Vizetelly, 1888. Uchard (1824-1893) was a French dramatist and "man of letters." His erotic and romantic novel has also been published as "French and Oriental Love in a Harem." This is the First Edition in English (translator unknown). Blue decorative cloth binding, with cherubs and nymphs on the front cover; the spine features a Turkish quarter moon; decorations filled… Read more about this item

New York: Three Sirens Press, 1931. Boccaccio's "Questions of Love" dates to 1472, and was a prototype for his masterwork, the "Decameron." Here is an unusual printing, using an anonymous 16th-century English translation for the text. Illustrated by Alexander King; with an Introduction by Thomas Bell. Bound in a ribbed blue cloth and quarter-bound in suede, an unusual choice by… Read more about this item

Paris, London and New York: Societe Des Beaux-Arts, 1912. One of the most popular novels by French literatiste Theophile Gautier (1811-1872). A romance, with a reputation as gentle erotica. (Wikipedia says "Mademoiselle de Maupin (1835) In September 1833, Gautier was solicited to write a historical romance based on the life of French opera star Mlle Maupin, who was a first-rate… Read more about this item

Stockholm: Jan Forlag, 1953. This is a Very Good copy of the First "Continental" Edition, in English but printed in Sweden. At this time the book was still under ban, and the copyright page states: "This edition not to be soldin the British Empire orU.S.A." This contains the unexpurgated text from 1928. Issued in softcover, the cream-colored paper does look… Read more about this item

Paris: Privately Printed, 1929. One of the most famous (or infamous) erotic novels of the Twentieth Century. This is a Very Good copy of "The Author's Unabridged Popular Edition," First Edition Thus, published the year after the First Edition; it includes an exclusive Introduction by Lawrence. There is no place or publisher listed; however, it was published in Paris by… Read more about this item

London & New York: John Lane The Bodley Head & Dodd, Mead and Company, 1926. Lord George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) left his satirical poem incomplete, but it has been enjoyed nonetheless ever since. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition Thus, a very nice production. The 93 illustrations and decorations by John Austen (1886-1948) are erotic, but… Read more about this item