THE BOOK OF LOVE [two variant editions]

Bombay [Taiwan?]: The Odalisque Press, 1960. Internally side-stapled, original printed wrapers and spine; light shelfwear. Copy 1: Top right cover missing small piece; some foxing to fore-edge and top. Copy 2: Some light warping to body, a few pages ragged, apparently from bindery / printer. Overall an unusual and interseting pair. Very good. 183pp. each. One of a series of Taiwanese piracies of pornographic novels, ripped-off from Paris Olympia Press titles or from novels published by Parisian competitors of the Olympia Press. The Book of Love comprises texts of "Love and Safety, or a Lecture on Ars Amatoria" by the Empress of Asturia, and Eugene Field's "Only a Boy." The imprint is "The Odalisque Press," and on the reverse of the title is the information that the book was printed by the 'Oriental Printing House, Bombay, in 1953. We are presnting these as a pair due to some minor and interesting differences; while silimar in miost respects, the dimensions of the cover devices and their placement differs; paper stocks differ, with the second copy printed in dark blue ink. One copy is bound with two sets of staples, the other three. Which was copied from the other, or if these were each based on another version is unknown. An interesting opportunity to compare similar works, each with great hand-feel and that special auro of vintage, clandestine works.