
FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS
FREE SPEECH CENSORSHIP
[
]
A
Merrie Crew?
Angelique,
Pierre [pseud. of Georges Bataille]. A tale of satisfied
desire. Paris: The Olympia Press, July 1953. 8vo (18.3 cm, 7.2"). 105, [5] pp.
$1000.00
Click the image for an enlargement.
First
English edition of the novella Histoire de l'oeil
(1928) by French writer Georges Bataille (1897–1962). In each chapter,
the young male narrator describes a sexual encounter with his friend Simone
accompanied by a varying group of girls and boys who also enjoy asphyxiophilia,
anal stimulation, exhibitionism, clothes wetting and other forms of urolagnia.
Histoire de l'oeil was translated from the French as A tale of satisfied desire by
“Audiart,” a pseudonym for Austryn Wainhouse (a.k.a. Pieralessandro Casavini), an American
Harvard graduate employed by the Olympia Press in Paris who received the National Book
Award in 1972 for his translation of Jacques Monod's Chance and Necessity. Adapted from
Bataille's revised text, first printed in 1944 — the second version, and standard French edition —
this translation appeared about the same time as the third French edition. Bataille worked on
other projects with both Wainhouse and Maurice Girodias, founder of the Olympia Press, and
probably knew of this translation.
The Olympia Press specialized in providing the types of books that would be
automatically banned in Britain and the United States. The first to publish Nabokov's Lolita and
Donleavy's Ginger Man, Olympia also printed numerous exuberantly pornographic works penned
pseudonymously by members of the Paris expatriate community, as well as avant-garde and
controversial works by prominent Beat writers including William S. Burroughs and Gregory
Corso.
Scarce:
WorldCat locates just three copies in the U.S.
D. Cullen, ed.,
“Bataille's Eye & ICI Field Notes 4,” The Institute of Cultural Inquiry (1997), p. 25. On this
work as censored, see: L. Sigel, International exposure: perspectives on modern European
pornography, 1800–2000, pp. 129–30. Publisher's mustard-colored wrappers
printed in black, with white stars and bars; extremities rubbed, wrappers a little scuffed, inside
like new. (30200)
For a bit more (mostly very mild!) EROTICA, click here.
For TRANSLATIONS, click here.

A
Spy Accuses an Archbishop
of Heresy
Antraigues, Emmanuel Henri Louis Alexandre de Launai, comte d'.
Henri-Alexandre Audainel, (comte d'Antraigues) a Etienne-Charles de
Lomenie, archevêque de Sens. Orléans: 1791. 8vo (21.2 cm, 8.4"). 34, [2 (blank)] pp.
$125.00
Click the image for an enlargement.
First edition, uncut copy: A counter-revolutionary pamphleteer and secret agent
offers sharply worded thoughts on France's relationship to the Roman Catholic Church,
addressed to Etienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne, Archbishop of Sens and minister of finance
to Louis XVI — with the Count attacking Brienne as impious and incompetent. A preliminary
notice to the reader notes that the work would have appeared much earlier if two shipments made
in Paris had not been
“unconstitutionally seized” by Jacobite agents.Uncommon: WorldCat and NUC Pre-1956 locate only six U.S. institutional holdings.
Martin & Walter 396. Never bound, sewn as issued, with
edges untrimmed. Title-page with affixed paper shelving label in lower inner corner and
pencilled monogram in upper outer portion. One leaf with closed split running through several
lines, without loss of text. (30813)
For BOOKS IN FRENCH, click here.
For CATHOLICA, click here.
For EUROPEAN LAW, click here.

Allowing “Absurd Dogma” to
Die Out
of Its Own Accord
Boissy d'Anglas, François-Antoine, comte de. Rapport sur la liberté des cultes, fait au nom des comités de salut public, de sûreté générale et de législation, réunis. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Nationale, An III [1795]. 8vo (21.5 cm, 8.5"). 19, [1] pp.
$100.00
Click the image for an enlargement.
First edition, untrimmed copy: An enormously influential essay
arguing against the persecution of religion — but also against its practice. The text of the decree of 3 Ventose 1795 follows.
Martin & Walter 3914. Removed from a nonce volume, title-page with paper shelving label in lower inner corner, early inked date addition within title and annotation in upper portion, and pencilled monogram in upper outer corner. Light foxing and the occasional other spot. (30937)
Click here
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not in PRB&M's
illustrated catalogues . . .
entering the number 16244
as keyword calls up *many* more
FRENCH REVOLUTION, FIRST REPUBLIC
PAMPHLETS Voilà!

Hamilton, Madison, & Jay
Explain the Constitution
Hamilton, Alexander; James Madison; & John Jay. The Federalist, on the new constitution, written in the year 1788. Hallowell, ME: Glazer & Co., 1826. 8vo (22 cm, 8.75"). 582 pp.
[SOLD]
Click the images for enlargements.
All research into the meaning and intent of the framers of the Constitution begins with The Federalist. Published in 1788 as a refutation to those who opposed ratification of the Constitution of the United States, The Federalist is relevant today as lawmakers and Supreme Court justices dust off their old copies and consult it for its authoritative and incisive interpretations of constitutional matters such as the relationship between federal and state governments, lobbies and lobbying, the freedom of the press, nominations and confirmations, constitutional amendments, war and treaty-making powers, and the impeachment process. Although the 85 essays here were originally published anonymously, authorship was assigned beginning with the Washington, 1818 edition; also beginning with that edition, Madison's corrections of his essays are present. This is the first edition of this highly important book to be printed in Maine.
The appendices include the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution and amendments 1–12, and the Pacificus/Helvidius letters that Hamilton (Pacificus) and Madison (Helvidius) exchanged in response to President George Washington’s “Neutrality Proclamation.”
Howes H114 (for the first and several subsequent editions); Shoemaker 24513; Sabin 23987. Contemporary acid-stained sheep, flat spine darkened and slightly pulled at top with vertically cracked leather reflecting a gutter opening at pp. 234–35; rubbing and abrasions, but volume firm. Title-page and last leaves with offsetting from a previous binding, one short marginal tear a little into text without loss, one leaf with paper flaw in upper margin taking the two page numerals; some foxing and light age-toning, with a small number of pencilled lines, ticks, etc. to margins indicating points of interest. A good++ copy. (40899)
For PRE-1820 AMERICANA,
click here.
For ANGLO-AMERICAN LAW, click here.
For HUMAN RIGHTS, click here.
For CONSTITUTIONS & CONSTITUTIONAL
ISSUES, click here.

“Liberty of the PRESS is the Palladium of
All Your RIGHTS”
Junius [pseud.]. The letters of Junius. London: John Sharpe, 1820. 24mo (13.3 cm; 5.25"). 2 vols. I: Engr. t.-p., [1], iv–xviii, [1], 20–203, [1] pp. II: Engr. t.-p., [1], 4–212 pp.
[SOLD]
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A timely reprint — one of five in 1820!! — of the scathing invective aimed at the Duke of Grafton, his ministry, and the government of George III in general, delivered with flair and some degree of wit. Anonymously published, the Junius letters were originally printed from 1769 through 1772 and have been convincingly although never with finality attributed to Sir Philip Francis. They discuss
the historical/constitutional rights and liberties of Englishmen and
point to where the government infringes upon them, an appropriate topic for a year of political unrest whose first four months included the major events of the Cato Street Conspiracy, the ascension of George IV following the death of George III and election of his first parliament, and the Radical War in Scotland.
This edition comes with
two engraved title-pages, one for each volume: the first showing an officer whose identity is covered by a curtain by G. Murray after H. Corbould, and the second showing a landscape with a pike topped with a Phrygian cap, sword, and shield alongside the Bill of Rights and Magna Carta by J. Pye after “R.W.”
As noted above, Sharpe was not the only printer to think of producing a new Junius in 1820 — Bumpus, Rivington, Davison, and Hancock also produced editions.
Binding: Red straight-grain morocco, each spine gilt extra, covers framed in gilt floral rolls, all edges gilt.
Bound as above, three boards reattached using the long-fiber method; overall lightly rubbed and stained, spines a bit sunned with leather chipping at one tip, light pencilling on endpapers. Title-page engravings lightly foxed, two leaves with small marginal stain and a number with creasing across corners, light age-toning.
A neat, attractive little set of this political classic. (37228)

The Inquisition & Father Hidalgo's “Manifiesto”
Mexico. Inquisition. Broadside, begins: Sabed: que ha llegado á nuestras manos un proclama del rebelde Cura de Dolores que se titula: 'Manifiesto, que el Señor Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla::::,, [sic] haze al Pueblo.” Mexico: no publisher/printer, 26 January 1811. Folio (43.4 cm; 17.125"). [1] p.
$12,500.00
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Approximately two months prior to Father Hidalgo's capture by the Royal Forces, the Holy Office issued this decree condemning a publication of the Father of Mexican Independence as seditious, Lutheran, and anti-Catholic. Other writings circulating in manuscript are also condemned: One beginning, “Hemos llegado a la epoca” and ending, “De una Patriota de Lagos” and another beginning,
“Es posible. Americanos!” and ending, “será gratificado con quinientos pesos.” Copies of each were burned by the public executioner and all citizens are warned of the penalties — excommunication and fines — for owning or reading these writings, or failing to denounce those who do.
Printed on two sheets precisely glued together to form a seamless whole, in double-column format and with the woodcut seal of the Inquisition in the lower right corner of the lower edge.
Garritz located only the copy in the Biblioteca Nacional and WorldCat locates only seven U.S. institutions holding copies.
Garritz, Impresos novohispanos, 1137. Not in Palau; Medina, Mexico; Ziga & Espinosa, Adiciones a la imprenta en Mexico; González de Cossío, 510, or González de Cossío, Cien. Old folds; a few small wormholes touching or costing a very few letters and one larger hole costing five letters, but not impeding reading sense. Slight discoloration along the area where the two sheets are pasted together and at points on vertical fold. (34599)
(Pascal, Blaise). Carta de un leonés a uno de los suscritores a la reimpresion de las Cartas provinciales de Pascal. México: Impr. de Luis Abadiano y Valdes, 1842. Small 4to. 16 pp.
$150.00
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Will Pascal ever be admitted to the libraries of devout Roman Catholics? The author of this extended essay, who styles himself "Un Leonés" and who signs himself with the initials "J.I.A.," cautions a supposed subscriber to a new edition of Pascal's letters that they are riddled with Jansenist heresy and that the pope still prohibits the devout from reading them.
Sutro 756 ("19p." being a typographical error for collation given here); not in Steele, Independent Mexico: A Collection of Mexican Pamphlets in the Bodleian Library. Folded and never sewn or bound; as issued. (4992)
Prinsep, Henry Thoby. The India question in 1853. London: William H. Allen & Co., 1853. 8vo (19.6 cm, 7.75"). [2], 111, [1 (blank)] pp.
$350.00
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Parliament reviewed the management of the East India Company every 20 years beginning in 1773. At the time of the 1853 review the number of directors of the East India company was reduced, one of those retained being Henry Prinsep (1793–1878), an able and successful Indian civil servant and member of the Council of India. He here gives his insights on a wide range of issues, from
education and the press to finance, the administration of justice, and how best to govern the country.
NSTC 2P27024. On Prinsep, see: DNB. Removed from a nonce volume. Lightly age-toned. Traces of soiling and small inked numeral on title-page. A few instances of pencilled sidelining. (11186)
For our INDIA gathering, click here.

The Psychedelic Venus Church — Berkeley, 1973
Psychedelic Venus Church, Berkeley, CA. Nelly Heathen. Berkeley, CA: Psychedelic Venus Church, 1973. Folio. 24 pp.
[SOLD]
Click the image for enlargement.
Apparently one-shot publication of a church devoted to neo-paganism with sexual orgies as a religious practice: cover photo depicts a couple in a sexual position on an altar. Line drawings represent both straight and gay couplings. The Psychedelic Venus Church was founded by Jefferson “F***” Poland. Includes material on the Maithuna Rite, Phallic worship, Yoga, Moon Magic, Sri Willie Minzey who was an initiate into the Hindu Shiva sect and was sentenced to 10 years in California prison on possession and distribution of marijuana; also history and bylaws of the Psyven Church. Editors and others associated with this publications include Rev. Mother Boats, Susan EliSabeth, John & Steve Gaylove, Cecily Burke, Bear, Rhyder McClure, et al.
Printed as a tabloid, on newsprint paper, folded; illustrations, photos, evenly toned, otherwise very good. (41126)

Sammelband — Four Tracts Printed on Native Paper — One about Censorship
Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina, Basilio. Exemplares de carta qve el Illo. y Rmo. Señor D. Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina, Arzobispo de Manila ... escrivio al Muy Ilustre Señor Governador ... D. Ioseph Raon: con el motivo de haverse efectuado por un Señor Ministro de la Real Audiencia la supression de unos Impressos, instructivos de la conducta y doctrinas de los Regulares de la Compañia, dados al publico en Madrid con Superior permisso, y que conduxo a Philipinas la Fragata de su Magestad nombrada La Venus, el año pasado de 1769. de edicto qve sv Señoria ... mando pvblicar, verificada la dicha supression, para aquietar las conciencias de los Fieles de su Diocesi, y de respvesta en qve sv Señoria ... satisface a los escrúpulos de cierto theologo ... Manila: en la imprenta del Rey, [1771]. Folio (30 cm, 11.75"). [2] ff., 16, 6 pp., [1] f., 100 pp., lacks the engraved frontis. (only). [bound with the same author's] Representacion al rey nuestro señor Don Carlos III.... en la cual, trayéndose á exámen los principales fundamentos, en que se apoyan los regulares párrocos de Philipinas, para eximirse de la jurisdiccion de los ordinarios de ellas, y de su visita, en cuanto á lo que es meramente la cura de almas, se demuestra claramente, ser nulos, y falsos; evidenciándose con la misma solidex la injusta contradiccion, é injuria, que por los referidos regulares ha padecido en este punto el Santo concilio de Trento, y las bulas pontificias, las leyes de Indias, con repetidas, y las mas terminantes reales cédulas de S.M. preceptivas de la visita, que aqui se expresan. Manila: En la imprenta de la Universidad de Santo Tomas, 1768. [1], 39 ff. [bound with the same author's] Memorial al rey nvestro señor D. Carlos III ... Hecho con el motivo de los distvrbios, qve hán intentado mover algunos regulares de Philipinas, mal afectos á la jurisdiccion episcopal ... Manila: En la Imprenta de la universidad de Santo Thomas, 1768. [1], 12 ff. [bound with the same author's] [drop-title] Señor. El año pasa de sesenta y ocho remiti a las reales manos de V.M. testimonio de las deposciones, que de mi orden se recivieron sobre las discordias, que algunos regulares pretendieron suscitar entre este prelado y su verable cabildo ... [Manila: no printer/publisher, 1769]. [8] ff.
$8750.00
Click the images for enlargements.
Sancho de Santa Justa arrived in Manila in 1767 to take up his duties as archbishop, which included overseeing
the expulsion of the Jesuits. He was a native of Aragon and a member of the Society of Scholarum Piarum.
Bound in this sammelband are four reports or letters addressed to the crown concerning various matters relating to the Jesuits and to other regular clergy, all printed on native paper (a.k.a., “rice paper”). The Exemplares concerns the confiscation of books produced by Jesuits and the edict to suppress them. They had arrived on the frigate La Venus in 1769; but after reading them, the archbishop allows them to circulate freely. The Representacion addresses the authority that regular clergy want to exert in parishes in contravention of canon and civil law, including disallowing the archbishop to visit their parishes, while the Memorial deals with the attempts by regular clergy to disrupt the relationship of the archbishop with his cabildo. The fourth and last item gives further information on the same matter as the third publication.
All four items are most uncommon. Exemplares is held by no U.S. library, Memorial and Señor are held by the Lilly only, Representacion by only Duke and University of Virginia.
Exemplares: Medina, Manila, 286; Palau 296834; Pardo de Tavera, Biblioteca filipina, 2516; Retana, Aparato bibliográfico, 342. Representacion: Medina, Manila, 278; Palau 296831; Retana, Aparato bibliográfico, 331; Pardo de Tavera, Biblioteca filipina, 2513. Memorial: Retana, Aparato bibliográfico, 332; Pardo de Tavera, Biblioteca filipina, 2514; Medina, Manila, 279; Palau 296832. Señor: Palau 296833; not in Medina, Manila; not in Retana, Aparato bibliográfico; not in Pardo de Tavera, Biblioteca filipina, 2514. Contemporary limp vellum with spine title in ink and thong ties, book block loose in binding; first item lacking the engraving. Contents relatively clean, with two small wormholes throughout causing generally minor text loss (a letter or two, not whole words).
A fascinating compilation of scarce Philippine imprints. (40763)
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not in PRB&M's
illustrated catalogues . . .
keywords,
e.g. = FREE SPEECH, FREE PRESS,
FREEDOM of SPEECH, FREEDOM of the PRESS,
INDEX EXPURAGTORIUS, INDEX PROHIBITORUM,
CENSOR, BANNED, SUPPRESS . . .
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necessary apologies for “false finds” of, say,
SUPPRESSED
INSURRECTIONS
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