The rare and wonderful first copy
We have had the pleasure of acquiring this collection of wonderful vintage erotica, namely ‘Fascination ~ le Musee Secret de l’Erotisme’. These magazines were dedicated to the erotic arts of the 19th and early 20th century in art, literature, theatre and anywhere where gems of erotic curiosity could be found. They are now very collectable. Still to be found for sale, they are becoming rare and more expensive as they gain recognition for their unique documentation of erotic history. But be warned, they are occasionally explicit…and, of course, in French! Amongst the many we have listed, we have the very first edition of this magazine which includes the work of Pierre Louys, friend of Oscar Wilde and Andre Gide, whose writings typify the approach of this magazine - to find the lost and delicious erotic gems of the 19th and 20th centuries. Only available for sale to those over 18 years of age.
This week we have added to the shop the rare, ‘A Journal of the Life and Travels of John Woolman’. It is beautifully printed in the style of the Kelmscott Press, the production of this limited edition book was overseen by Charles Robert Ashbee at his Essex House Press. Essex House was opened after the closure of the Kelmscott Press and employed several of its craftsmen. The stamp of the Guild of Handicraft is clearly visible in the production of this book, as is the Kelmscott style. The lettering and decoration are beautiful - still crisp and clear. The text follows the fascinating journey that John Woolman made as a Quaker in the ‘ministry’ and working to end slavery. This copy is number 5 of 250.