• Title page: TO BEG | I AM ASHAMED | By | SHEILA COUSINS | KITABISTAN | ALLAHABAD || Pagination:[1-4] 5-285 [286] [2], total 288 pages. Collation: 8vo; [1]8 2-188; total 144 leaves. Binding: Publisher’s red cloth, black lettering to front cover and spine, price-clipped brown and grey dust jacket, lettered front: TO BEG | I AM ASHAMED | SHEILA | COUSINS |The authentic | autobiography | of a | LONDON | PROSTITUTE | KITABISTAN ||; annotation by Diana Frederics to the back. Size: 19 x 13 cm. Edition: 1st Indian edition. Contributors: Graham Greene (British, 1904 – 1991) – author. Ronald Matthews (British, 1903 – 1967) – author. Frances V. Rummell [pseudonym Diana Fredericks] (American, 1907 – 1969) – annotation author. Kitabistan (Allahabad, India) – publisher. J. K. Sharma at the Allahabad Law Journal Press – printer.
  • Title: Antoinette Faÿ-Hallé • Christine Lahaussois | Le grand livre de la | faïence française | Office du livre || Dedication (to imprint): A Jeanne Giacomotti (author of French Faience, Oldbourne Press, London, 1963) Pagination: [1-6] 7-242 [2], 300 illustrations, incl. 150 in colour. Binding: 29 x 25.5 cm, grey paper, blind-stamped to front cover, white lettering to spine, pictorial dust jacket. Contributors: Antoinette Faÿ- Hallé (French, 20th century) – Chargée du Musée national de céramique de Sèvres Christine Lahaussois (French, 20th century) – Chargée de conservation, Musée national de céramique, Sèvres  
  • Title-page (red and black): RESTIF DE LA BRETONNE | LES | FAIBLESSES | D'UNE | JOLIE FEMME | ILLUSTRATIONS EN COULEURS | DE | RAOUL SERRES | {VIGNETTE} | EDMOND VAIREL, ÉDITEUR | PARIS || Description: 25.8 x 17 cm, French flapped wrappers lettered in red and black “LES | FAIBLESSES | D'UNE | JOLIE FEMME” in a 26 x 18 cm tan cloth double slipcase, [1-14] 15-175 [176] [8], collated in-8vo, with 25 colour in-text woodcut vignettes and two tailpieces at the end of each chapter, by Gérard Angiolini after watercolours by Raoul Serres. Published: April 18, 1951, in Paris. Edition: 1st thus, limited edition of 1,025 copies, of which this is № 904 of a common print run on Vélin de Rives paper (numbered 101-1,000). Contributors: Nicolas Restif de la Bretonne [Nicolas-Edme Rétif] (French, 1734 – 1806) – author. Raoul Serres [Schem] (French, 1881 – 1971) – artist. Gérard Angiolini (French, fl. 1946 – 1957) – engraver. Imprimerie Coulouma (Argenteuil), Robert Coulouma (French, 1887-1976) – printer. Edmond Vairel (French, 18… – 19...) – publisher, colourist.
  • Title page: DIALOGUE AUX ENFERS | ENTRE | MACHIAVEL | ET MONTESQUIEU | OU LA POLITIQUE DE MACHIAVEL | AU XIXe SIÈCLE, | PAR UN CONTEMPORAIN. | {6 lines of citations} | ~ | BRUXELLES, | IMPRIMERIE DE A. MERTENS ET FILS, | RUE DE L’ESCALIER, 22. | 1864 ||

    Description:18.7 x 11.8 cm, quarter red morocco over marbled boards, spine with raised bands ruled in gilt, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers.

    Collation: 12mo; fep, 1 blank, π4 1-2712, 292, 1 blank, fep.; total 176 leaves. Pagination: [2] [2 h.t] [2 t.p.] [i] ii-iii [iv] [1] 2-337 [338] [2 errata] [2]. Other copies: LIB-0460.2015 and LIB-1034.2016. Other related objects: SVVP-0062.2021. The publication was funded by the author and smuggled into France. Contributors: Maurice Joly (French, 1829 – 1878)
  • Description: One volume in French flapped cream wrappers, 25.5 x 19.5 cm, lettered “PYBRAC”, in glassine DJ, collated 4to, printed on watermarked Van Gelder laid paper, outer and bottom margins untrimmed, illustrated with 20 in-text drypoints on recto of each 1st and 3rd leaf of 1-10 gatherings, some with tipped-in tissue guards, unbound. This copy lacks the frontispiece, 10 full-page plates, and does not have any enrichment. It is one volume instead of two. Title-page: PYBRAC | ILLUSTRE DE TRENTE POINT SÈCHES | D’UN | ARTISTE INCONNU | PARIS | AUX DÉPENS D’UN AMATEUR | — | M. CM. XXVIII || Limitation: Edition limited to 30 copies, 1 copy unique on Japon Nacré with 30 original sketches, one suite in colour, two suites in black and 5 cancelled plates; 29 copies on Hollande Van Gelder, with one original watercolour, four original sketches, one suite in colour, two suites in black and 5 cancelled plates. This is copy № 8 (but without 11 full-page plates and with no enrichment). For a unique copy of the enriched edition in this collection, see LIB-3065.2022. Collation: π4 (2 blanks, h.t., t.p.), 1-104, χ2 (2 blanks), total 46 leaves. Pagination: [8] 1-78 [2] [4], total 92 pages. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel (1920-1970): № 2279, p. 334, Pia (Enfer):№ 1117, p. 586, Nordmann (I):№ 235; Vokaer № 23, p. 13; Fekete:№ 216. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist.
  • Softcover, in pictorial wrappers, 28 x 21.8 cm, 64 entries, with colour illustrations, some folding. Catalogue # 17 of the sales exhibition on March 17-21, 2021 in NY; pagination: [1-3] 4-182 [2], ils. Contributor: Sebastian Izzard Select illustrations (references in this collection):

    SVJP-0222.2016: A view of the dressing room of a Theater in Dōtonbori, Ōsaka.

    SVJP-0105.2014: Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII as the ghost of Seigen.

    SVJP-0360.2022: Ichikawa Danjūrō VII.

    SVJP-0361.2022: Beauty playing the shamisen beneath a mosquito net.

    SVJP-0359.2022: Young woman checks her makeup in a mirror.

    SVJP-0197-1.2015

    SVJP-0197.2015: Three Pleasures of Present-day Osaka (Tôsei Naniwa no sankô); left; centre, right.

  • Softcover, pictorial wrappers, square 21 x 21 cm, 40 leaves, unpaginated, with illustrations in colour, 80 entries, with price list laid in; limited edition of 700 copies. Contributor: Israel Goldman In this collection:

    JPD-0008.2016: Mori Sosen. Ink and colour on silk.

  • Title-page: KUNIYOSHI | The Warrior-Prints | B. W. Robinson | [space] | PHAIDON | OXFORD || Description: hardcover, 31.7 x 25 cm, bound in olive green cloth with gilt lettering to spine, white endpapers, pictorial olive dust jacket; pp.: [1-6] 7-208 incl. frontispiece, 64 plates, and 30 figs. in the text (total 104 leaves, 205 illustrations, including 32 in colour); catalogue with the list of illustrations, and index of characters portrayed. Inset: A.L.s. on Phaidon letterhead by Sue Moulton; ISBN 0714822272. Edition: 1st edition,1st printing (a review copy). Contributor: Robinson, Basil William (British, 1912 – 2005).
  • © Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad, 1985. Printed and bound in Finland. Title-page (in red on the pictorial background): SAVED FOR | HUMANITY | THE HERMITAGE DURING | THE SIEGE OF LENINGRAD | 1941-1944 | AURORA ART PUBLISHERS • LENINGRAD || Illustrated album in hardcover, 33 x 25 cm, bound in black cloth with gilt and red to front cover and spine, brown endpapers, pictorial dust jacket; pp.: [1-6] 7-270 [34], total 304 pages with 388 b/w and colour illustrations. TextSergei Petrovich Varshavsky [Сергей Петрович Варшавский] (Jewish-Russian, 1906 – 1980); B. Rest [Б. Рест; Юлий Исаакович Шапиро] (Jewish-Russian, fl. 1940 – 1980). Preface: Boris Piotrovsky [Борис Борисович Пиотровский] (Russian, 1908 – 1990). Translated by Arthur Shkarovsky-Rafeé. Layout by Liubov Rakhmilevich. Photography by Viktor Savik and Leonid Bogdanov. Design by Valery Ivanov. A twin edition to [LIB-3042.2022] S. Varshavsky, B. Rest. The ordeal of the Hermitage: The siege of Leningrad, 1941-1944 — Leningrad: Aurora Art Publishers, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1985 and the Russian edition [LIB-3044.2022] C. Варшавский, Б. Рест. Подвиг Эрмитажа, 1941-1944 / Альбом. — Ленинград: Издательство «Аврора», 1987. The text extracted from [LIB-3035.2022] С. Варшавский, Б. Рест. Подвиг Эрмитажа: Государственный Эрмитаж в годы Великой отечественной войны. — М.-Л.: Советский художник, 1965.  
  • Paperback, 23 x 15.5 cm, pictorial wrappers, pp. [i-xxi] [3] [1] 2-311 [312 blank], total 336 pages. Title-page: Japan | and the | Culture | of the | Four Seasons | Nature, Literature, and the Arts | HARUO SHIRANE | Columbia University Press   New York ||
  • Publisher’s wrappers, 21.3 x 14.8 cm, 10 four-leave gatherings, unsigned, pp.: [8] 1-70 [2]; total 40 leaves (80 pages), illustrated with 73 in-text woodcuts in sanguine after Feodor Rojankovsky drawings. [1]4 recto reproduces the author’s handwriting. Unbound. Some foxing to the wrappers, all pages clean. Title-page: Poésies Érotiques | de | Pierre Louys | {vignette} | ROME | 1937 || Print run limited to 311 copies, 230 copies (№№ 71-300) on BFK Rives wove paper (watermarked); of which this is copy № 93. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel III 2230. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Feodor Rojankovsky [Rojan, Фёдор Степанович Рожанковский] (Russian-American, 1891 – 1970).
  • Hardcover volume, 26.6 x 21.3 cm, ¾ blue crushed morocco over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, original wrappers preserved, raised bands; wove paper, watermarked Van Gelder Zonen, unpaginated, 2 ffl, 1 front cover, 2 blanks, 1 h.t., 1 t.p., 46 leaves of text and plates (18 full-page and 14 half-page lithographs by Marcel Vertès), 1 colophon, 1 blank, 1 back cover, 2 ffl; 52 leaves within the original covers, as per Dutel. Title-page: POÉSIES | ÉROTIQUES | D' | UN | AUTE | UR CÉ | LÈBRE, | ILLUSTRÉ | ES DE TR | ENTE-DEUX | LITHOGRAPHIES | ORIGINALES | DESSINÉES | PAR UN | ARTISTE | INCON | NU | | BARCELONE | ATARAZANAS (BARRIO CHINO) | L'AN I DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE | CATALANE || Limitation: A print run of 165 numbered copies, of which this is copy № 148, and 5 additional presentation copies. The text was printed by Massol, and plates were produced by Mme Duchatel. Catalogue raisonné: Dutel III № 2228 ; Nordmann II (Christie’s) № 321; Éros invaincu № 92, p. 222; Vokaer № 36, p. 16. Contributors: Pierre Louÿs (French, 1870 – 1925) – author. Marcel Vertès [Marcell Vértes] (Jewish-Hungarian-French, 1895 – 1961) – artist. René Bonnel (French, 1884 – 1975) – publisher.
  • Hardcover volume from the series Masterworks of ukiyo-e, 26.5 x 19 cm, bound in unprimed canvas, red ms characters on black strip to front, red and black lettering to spine, tan embossed endpapers, in a pictorial slipcase with series design (black lettering on silver spine); pp: [1-6]: h.t./frontis. (colour plate pasted in), t.p./imprint, contents/acknowledgements), 7-31 text, [32] blank, 33-96 (76 plates w/captions). Title-page (in frame): MASTERWORKS OF UKIYO-E | UTAMARO | by Muneshige Narazaki and Sadao Kikuchi | Translated by John Bester | {publisher’s device} | KODANSHA INTERNATIONAL LTD. | Tokyo, Japan & Palo-Alto, Calif., U.S.A | {vertical, between rules 歌麿} || Series: Masterworks of ukiyo-e, № 4. Contributors: Muneshige Narazaki [楢崎 宗重] (Japanese, 1904 – 2001) – author. Sadao Kikuchi [菊地 貞雄] (Japanese, 1924 – 2017) – author. John Bester (British, 1927 – 2010) – translator. Kitagawa Utamaro [喜多川 歌麿] (Japanese, c. 1753 – 1806) – artist.
  • Hardcover volume 28.5 x 20.8 cm, quarter brown morocco over marbled boards, ruled in gilt, spine with raised bands, gilt in compartments, gilt lettering, marbled endpapers, top margin gilt, original lithographic wrappers designed by A. Willette preserved; pp.: [4] h.t., t.p., [1] 2-350 [2], 300 b/w ils in-text and 12 coloured photomechanical reproductions extraneous to collation; collated in-4o: π2 1-444; Title-page: L'ART DU RIRE | ET DE | LA CARICATURE | PAR ARSÈNE ALEXANDRE | 300 FAC-SIMILÉS EN NOIR ET 12 PLANCHES EN COULEURS | D’APRÈS LES ORIGINAUX | {vignette} | PARIS | ANCIENNE MAISON QUANIN | LIBRAIRIES-IMPRIMERIES RÉUNIES | 7, RUE ST-BENOIT | MAY & MOTTEROZ, DIRECTEURS || Contributors : Librairie-Imprimerie réunies (Paris, 1880-1908) – publisher. Arsène Alexandre (French, 1859 – 1937) – author. Adolphe Willette (French, 1857 – 1926) – artist (wrapper)
  • Hardcover volume, 17 x 12.5 cm, bound in lilac cardboard, lettering to covers and spine, vignette by Boris Rybchenkov to front board; pp.: [1-4] 5-188 [4]. Pencil ms to h.t. "Самалюк | Рай Кунцевское | Зав. роно" (Самалюк, зав. кунцевским районным отделом народного образования)ю Title-page: И. Г. МАЛЕЕВ | ГОРОЖАНЕ | МОСКОВСКОЕ | ТОВАРИЩЕСТВО | ПИСАТЕЛЕЙ || Print run: 5,200 copies. Contributors: Малеев, Игорь Александрович (Russian, 1904 – 1936?) – author. [Igor Maleyev] Рыбченков, Борис Федорович (Russian, 1899 – 1994) – artist. [Boris Rybchenkov]  
  • Two volumes, 168 x 106 mm each, uniformly bound in faux mottled calf ruled in gilt, marbled endpapers. Vol. 1: 3 blank leaves of wove paper, 3 blank leaves of laid paper, half-title/blank, blank/frontispiece, ‘engraved’ t.p./blank, both printed on laid paper watermarked “ARCHES A LA | MAIN”; ‘letterpress’ t.p.,/blank, pp.: [1] 2-115 [116 blank], 3 blank leaves of laid paper, 3 blank leaves of wove paper; collated 12mo: π2 A-I6 K4; total 60 leaves plus 16 ‘engraved’ plates, incl. t.p. and frontis. Vol. 2: 3 blank leaves of wove paper, 3 blank leaves of laid paper, half-title/blank, blank/frontispiece, ‘engraved’ t.p./blank, no watermark, ‘letterpress’ t.p.,/blank, pp.: 1-77 [78 blank], 2 blank leaves of laid paper, 3 blank leaves of wove paper; collated 12mo: π2 A-F6 G3; total 41 leaves plus 24 ‘engraved’ plates, incl. t.p. and frontis. Dutel (I): A-1089, p. 325: in-8 (probably by size only, no formula suggested), pagination 115 and 77 as here, 2 frontispieces, 2 engraved titles dated 1873, “et 36 belles gravures de Binet”. Cohen-DeRicci: p. 734 bottom: in-12, no pagination, no formula. "Thérèse" was offered by a French seller user-75d14f4 on the online auction platform CATAWIKI in December 2021. The seller's description of this two-volume set was: "Re-edition, the date of which I was unable to determine. (London, no name, 1782) 2 duodecimo volumes of 115 and 77 pp., very lovely marbled sheepskin pastiche bindings, gilded triple fillets, adorned spines, black title labels. This classic of 18th-century clandestine erotica was written in 1748 by an author who has remained anonymous, attributed at the time to Montigny, which led to his internment in the Bastille. It is now attributed to the Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens. Edition illustrated with 37 very unrestrained figures, engraved in intaglio after Borel, unsigned." I should have paid more attention to the first phase, about the re-edition, but I didn't. After a few bidding rounds, I won the book when the hammer price was 2,200 Euros. On the 28th of December, 2021, I paid for this little beauty $2,760. The book arrived a few days later.  The paper's quality and texture, the watermark, the absence of the platemark, and the lack of embossing on the back (text and plates) made me suspect it was a fake. The pages were absolutely flat to the touch!  I established clear evidence of a high-resolution 'xerox' copy using Celestron Micro Capture Pro micro-photography.  I wrote to the seller and the auction platform, explaining my doubts regarding its authenticity. To prove my point, I include a few micro photos of the "Thérèse" and some books printed at the end of the 18th century. I explained why I considered it a fake and requested a return/refund. After two months of email exchanges, the seller and the platform refused to pay me back. Today is the 2nd anniversary of the purchase. I still have the book. To celebrate my carelessness, I included it in my library to warn fellow book collectors about buying from an unknown dealer via certain online auction platforms. Ref.: Bamber Gascoigne. How to Identify Prints: A Complete Guide to Manual and Mechanical Processes from Woodcut to Ink. — Thames and Hudson, 1995.

    Thérèse philosophe, 1783.

    Late 18th century books

    Books used for comparison: [LIB-2743.2021] Restif de la Bretonne. Les parisiennes, ou XL caractères généraux pris dans les mœurs actuelles, propres à servir à l’instruction des personnes-du-sexe / 4 vol. — Neufchâtel, et Paris: Guillot, 1787. [LIB-3027.2022] [Héliodore d’Emèse]. Amours de Théagènes et Chariclée: Histoire Éthiopique / 2 vol. — Londres [i.e. Paris]: [s.n.], 1743. [LIB-3252.2023] [Nicolas Chorier.] Le Meursius françois, ou entretiens galans d’Aloysia, orné de figures. — Cythere [i.e. Paris: Cazin], 1782. Below is a Xerox copy for comparison.