22.5 x 18cm. 174pp. B/w breitz of the author by Kisling, Foujita, Per Krohg, Hermine David, et. al. Ten photographs by Man Ray. Wrappers with tipped-on pictorial design. First edition of these clipped illustrated memoirs by Montparnesse's most famous model, "chanteuse informale", star of Man Ray's "L'Etoile de Mer", and many wild Parisian nights. The false sexy rumour of the time was that she could not grow pubic hair and did not need to shave. A close to fine example of this very desirable and highly entertaining work. Scarce.

18 x 12cm, 60 pp. Original wrappers. Loose signatures. First edition of this privately printed and remarkably notorious "story of damask illusion".

The title translates as "A sexual nocturne" and is a tale of a man recalling his early encounters with sexuality and sexual language, a rendezvous in a bordello ("one of those high moments that convinces us to put off suicide") and other incidents that shaped his erotic history.

Edice 69 books were never available for sale; they were exclusively available to subscribers and friends. The company consisted of Styrsky as editor with Toyen for the most part. This book and Styrsky's EMILIE PRICHAZI KE MNE VE SNU (Emily Comes to Me in a Dream) constitute the most important of the series of which there would be only six volumes in all.

In these issues Toyen would express herself with the least inhibitions of frank sexuality, a factor never far from her central concerns throughout her oeuvre, and Styrsky a complex, multilayered self-confession. Styrsky was the more obsessive of the two and more attracted to kinkiness and the downright weird. Nezval's participation in Edice 69 was limited to this one release. It is oft cited as one of Nezval's worst books but the text serves as a platform for the visual content, which is also true of all the issues of Edice 69. All of the participants in the publishing venture shared the conviction to employ art as a means to eroticise the world, overcoming the throes of 19th century morality and thus self-releasing into freedom; they were social critics and shared strong leftist sympathies, pushing the boundaries of conventional reality through eroticism. The collages by Styrsky are some of his most startling and outrageous, conveying psychological twists and biographical messages in a zany humour. This is nr 83 of 138 numbered copies ie 2 x 69 - half of the edition was hand coloured and is very, very rarely encountered - and this example is in very good condition with some marks on the wrappers . Exceptionally rare and desirable. 

21 x 16.8cm, 190pp plus original card wrappers plus printed dustjacket (with a tipped on 'puppe' vignette) and original transparent pvc cover.

The last of the published versions of Bellmer's classic surrealist book which displays the erotic possibilities of his modified dolls - this version was comprised of the contents of Die Puppe; Die Spiele der Puppe and Die Anatomie des Bildes. Illustrated throughout with b/w line drawings this additionally has ten b/w tipped in reproductions of photographs and sixteen in colours - all after the original publications - of Bellmer's flexible doll-scullture in various poses and situations (some with an air of menace, others sexuality and others still seemingly innocent).

One of 2,000 numbered copies, this is still a desirable and much sought after publication. This is a near fine copy. Very scarce.

LAID IN:

21 x 16cm, 1pp b/w statement for the purchaser to sign and date and have stamped by the bookseller to prove that the book was sold to someone over the age of 21 to avoid prosecution for obscenity. This is usually missing from the books as the certificate was to be retained by the bookseller.

29 x 23cm slip case content with  29 x 23cm book, 192pp as loose folios and original covers. First edition of this novel of romantic love challenged by events as illustrated by Hugo with seven original lithographs.

This copy is one of 50 numbered examples on Marais which has an additional suite of Hugo's slightly saccharine illustrations printed b/w on chiffon Johannot aside from the du tete of 8 copies and the total trade edition of 500 numbered copies inclusive of the deluxe examples. Laid in the author's note pointing out that the character of Lydie Demirgian is a fictional invention. Fine example with very slight bump to one edge of slipcase.

18.5 x 18.5cm, 246pp. Boards. Monograph considering the fascination that the erotic held for the surrealists with images of works and of the artists: Dali, Man Ray, Picasso, Miro, Tanguy , Jean Arp, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Andre Breton, Edvard Munch and others. This example has a short dedication in black and red ink by the author on the title pages.