Historical Reproductions/Sporting Guides
1775 PROSTITUTES OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
This book contains a reproduction of the 1775 Scottish publication, RANGER’S IMPARTIAL LIST OF THE LADIES OF PLEASURE IN EDINBURGH, WITH A PREFACE BY A CELEBRATED WIT. This publication presents a list of many of Edinburgh’s active prostitutes in the year 1775. Their physical attributes are presented along with their psychological makeup and emotional characteristics. Sexual specializations are alluded to as well as other attributes or drawbacks of a particular woman. The publication also noted the ages of the various prostitutes. They ranged in age from 16 to 50, with most of the women in their 20s. Prostitution was clearly a profession for younger women.
$12.95, softcover , 64 pages.
1895 LADIES OF EASY VIRTUE: THE GAR SOUVENIR SPORTING GUIDE
This book contains a facsimile reproduction of an 1895 guide book to sporting women in Louisville during the annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic. The guide was 28 pages long and provided the reader with a list of houses of prostitution. During slack times at the Encampment the men could avail themselves of “horizontal refreshments” provided by the sporting ladies. Following the reproduction of the Guide (and added by this author) are actual photos showing some of the prostitutes and madams of the time. Some of the women are in various stages of undress.
$14.95, softcover, 69 pages.
AMERICAN VICE RESORTS 1917
In 1917 H. B. Woolston conducted a study of prostitution in 40 cities in the United States. This survey was probably the most comprehensive and systematic U. S. study of the time. He surveyed many aspects of the profession including the types of vice resorts found in 40 U. S. cities. He described the many different locations within a city where prostitution was carried out. This volume comprises those findings plus general information about prostitution from the time of Woolston’s study. Also included are rules for operating a brothel, regulations in the operation of a red light district, and health department regulations governing women in a restricted district.
$12.95, softcover, 64 pages.
THE BLUE BOOK OF NEW ORLEANS
Storyville, the red light section of New Orleans, was opened in 1897 and officially existed for twenty years. A series of guides were printed during this time and were called red books. These books contained prostitute’s names, where they resided, brothel ads and general advertisements. The guides were distributed in bars, barbershops, at the train station and by a small team of newsboys. Original copies of these books are incredibly hard to find. This publication contains a reproduction of the 1911-1912 BLUE BOOK. The original pages (5½” x 4¼”) have been reduced in size for this book. The photographs in the BLUE BOOK are reproduced as they appear in the copy in my possession. Due to the printing processes of the time they are not high quality. This book is limited to 500 signed and numbered copies.
$29.95, softcover, 127 pages.
NEW YORK CITY PROSTITUTION IN 1912
This is a reprint of selected material that first appeared in COMMERCIALIZED PROSTITUTION IN NEW YORK CITY, which was published in 1912. The goal of that book was to report, as accurately as possible, the conditions of prostitution as they existed in parlor houses, tenement houses, hotels, furnished rooms and massage parlors in New York City at that time. It introduced the reader to the world of vice in America’s largest city, where prostitution was widely and openly practiced. Current day readers will find some differences but many similarities to prostitution as it exists in the 21st century.
$12.95, softcover, 64 pages.
THE PRETTY WOMEN OF PARIS 1883 NAMES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
This book is based on the anonymously written and published 1883 book, THE PRETTY WOMEN OF PARIS. I have chosen 44 women from that book and added photographs to the material that describes the women. These photographs were not in the original 1883 book. As the reader will note, many of the women featured performed on the legitimate stage in one of the Paris theaters. Some of the photographs show the women in their stage costumes. Those who were on the Paris stage and listed in the book dispensed there favors on the side. This made a nice supplement to their income and material for an interesting look at Paris circa 1883.
$15.95, softcover, 124 pages.
First Edition, Signed
PROSTITUTION IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE 1860s
In 1868 the Hartford, CT publishing house of J. B. Burr and Company published SUNSHINE AND SHADOW IN NEW YORK, by Matthew Hale Smith. In the book Smith wrote many essays about the life and people of this metropolitan city. Included in these essays were some descriptions of prostitutes, prostitution, and those who supported the trade. Those stories are represented in this book. The text has not been edited and the pages included in the present book have been reproduced from the printed 1868 publication.
$12.95, softcover, 64 pages.
SOUVENIR SPORTING GUIDE
This book contains a reproduction of an 1897 guide book to sportin' women in Los Angeles, California. The guide was 16 pages long and provided the reader with a list of places where prostitutes could be found. Apparently neither the working women nor the madams were particularly shy about advertising their wares. Following the text (and added by this author) are several actual photos showing some of the prostitutes and madams of the time. Since some of the women are in various stages of undress, this book receives an "R" rating.
$12.95, softcover, 50 pages.
WHY WOMEN BECOME PROSTITUTES: A VIEW FROM THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
A study on prostitution in New York City was conducted in the mid-nineteenth century. Part of the purpose of the study was to determine why women went into prostitution. The study was piloted by Dr. William Sanger, a well-respected New York City physician. After extensive interviews with working prostitutes, he discovered the primary reasons women chose prostitution as a way of life. He augmented his findings with many case studies. Dr. Sanger’s findings and case studies are reproduced in this book.
$12.95, softcover, 67 pages.