An especially draconian proposal for the regulation of prostitution in the city of Paris. Various codes had been proposed during the eighteenth century, the most influential being the utilitarian Pornographe by Restif de la Bretonne published in 1769. The author of the 1775 Code seems to be responding directly to Restif. Where the Pornographe was accepting of the profession and concerned with the welfare of those associated with it, the Code proposed repressive measures in its 45 articles designed mainly to punish prostitution as a vice..see full details
First edition of this extraordinary treatise on the status of eunuchs in society, according to civil and canon law.more...
Largely based on classical sources, history and (most interestingly) anecdotal evidence from the Orient, Ancillon considers the reasons for the phenomenon (including slavery, household, employment or punishment for sexual misdemeanour). The major contention is that while civil law permits a eunuch to marry, canon law should forbid it (as it did) on the grounds that a marriage could not be consummated. Along the way Ancillon recounts numerous anecdotes of famous eunuchs, notably Abelard, castrated at the instigation of Heloise’s family.
The book was later translated into English by Robert Samber as part of Edmund Curll’s Eunuchism display’d (1718).
This copy of Traité des Eunuques is one of at least two issues of the same year with slightly different paginations and title ornaments. The ‘Epitre dedicatoire’ is signed: ‘C. d’Ollincan’ an anagram of the author’s real name..see full details
First edition of this legal and medical treatise on the concepts and definitions of rape and of sexual intercourse in general.more...
Gerstlacher was a physician, but the work is clearly aimed at the legal profession. He cites Carpzov, Brunemann, and Kress as well as St Augustine in exploring complex issues such as sex within and outside marriage, ages of maturity, the status of sex without male ejaculation and prostitution..see full details
The limitation notice reads ‘This Edition is issued to Subscribers only and limited to two hundred and fifty copies, numbered and signed by the Author. The price will be doubled after first of March, 1931’. This copy is, however, unsigned and unnumbered. The work forms issue no. 5 of The Lugano Series.
‘From 1920 until 1937 Douglas was settled in Florence... As his fame grew, he became much visited by inter-war writers, and forged close friendships with D. H. Lawrence and Bryher. During these years he lived with the publisher Giuseppe (Pino) Orioli, who helped him publish several limited editions, most of which were later commercially published in London... In 1937 Douglas was forced to flee Florence after the police made enquiries concerning his friendship with a ten-year-old local girl’ (Katherine Mullin in Oxford DNB). .see full details
First edition of this comprehensive study of human fertility, infertility and artificial insemination.more...
‘Notre livre est surtout destiné aux familles qui sont désolées de rester sans enfants.’ A practical and populist approach to the scientific facts with an extraordinary sequence of vignettes by José Roy..see full details
