An extraordinary exemplar of this French-language collection of seven erotic poems, Les Pisseuses, by the French poet and raconteur, publicist and activist, gadfly and erotophile. From the personal library of another gadfly and erotophile, the noted bibliographer and bibliophile, literary sleuth and book scout, Gershon Legman, as conveyed to me from his widow, the fabulous Judith Legman. Just 11 pp. and measuring 7 3/4″ high by 5 1/2″ wide, bound in flapped grey heavy-paper wrappers over blind paper covers. Generally clean and bright, with some foxing interior at endpaper heads, dissipating. Most importantly, inscribed by the author on the title page: “a Monsieur Sage Bull / en homage très sympathique / Louis Perceau” [though I’m not completely convinced as to the first letter of the first name]. A 1994 reprint was of only 26 lettered copies “privately printed for friends of the publisher.” Louis Perceau (22 September 1883 – 20 April 1942) wrote under other pseudonyms, many of them almost unbelievable, including “Helpey Poitevin Bibliographe,” “Dr. Ludovico Hernandez,” “Alexandre de Vérineau,” “Un vieux journaliste,” “Radeville et Deschamps,” “Marquis Boniface de Richequeue” and others (Wikipedia).
Perceau, as one name or another, wrote Introductions and other snippets for some of the 18th- and 19th-century works of erotica that other publishers printed and that printers published. Colophon notes that “Cette Edition Privee a Ete Achevee D’Imprimer le 30 Mai 1934, Pour L’Auteur, 30, Rue du Docteur Heulin, a Paris (17e),” translated as “This Private Edition Was Completed Printing on May 30, 1934, For the Author, 30, Rue du Docteur Heulin, in Paris on the 17th.”
Scarce in this state and condition, being signed and inscribed.
Offered by Structure, Verses, Agency Books
$425
To purchase, contact svafinebooks@gmail.com
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