L’Art de Seduire les Hommes suivi de l’Amour et les Poisons

Paris: L'Edition, Bibliotheque des Curieux, No date.
Second Edition.

19cm x 12cm. [iv], 270 pages, black and white illustrations. Illustrated wrappers. Text is in French.

French guide to the seduction of men with supplementary essays on love and poisons (including opium) published under the pseudonym of a curious woman, likely the work of the poet Maurice Magre, who published L’Art de seduire les Femmes and the essays also fitting his style, though this remains unsubstantiated. First published in 1910 with illustrations by Fabien Fabiano, here reissued under the curiosa imprint of the brothers Robert and Georges Briffaut with a cover illustration by noted illustrator of shipping line posters Sandy-Hook [Georges Taboureau], and with illustrated headpieces by another hand throughout. There are at least two issues by the brothers, the first likely issued circa 1915-16 with the cover printed by the Paris printer Kapp, with plates again by Fabiano, and running to 283 numbered pages; for this issue circa 1920-21 the cover is printed by De Matteis, and runs to 269 numbered pages, the lower count reflecting the absence of Fabiano’s plates, which in the first issue had been included within the pagination.

Creasing to spine. 3cm split to crown of upper joint. Good Condition.

AU$250