Yoshiwara: The Nightless City Secretly published for the Erotic Society of Japan
[Japan] Stunning for its detailed, blush-inducing (!) descriptions of the sex life of a young girl named, 'The Lily', who is a prostitute. Eventually she services none other than the Emperor of Japan who realises he had previously had sex with her mother and has thus committed incest. The 'c' word is used throughout which is amazing for a book from 1907. The illustrations are supposedly based on shunga by Utamaro. The 'Iymetsu [Iemitsu?], Ltd. Tokyo', on the title page is also puzzling. The book was published by Charles Carrington (1857-1921) of Paris, who was famous for publishing such erotica. The author is unknown but this book is certainly not the same as De Becker's work. Supposedly only 500 copies were printed exclusively for members of this 'Society' and this copy is unnumbered. Printed on heavy paper and string-bound Japanese style.
Paris. Charles Carrington. 1907.
340pp (plus 6 illustrations printed on one side only). 20.7 x 14.2 x 3.7cm.
In very good condition. Wear and loss to corners of front cover title slip 'Yoshiwara'. A few pages have short closed tears at lower margin.
b33040935b
