Tom Poulton: The Secret Art of an English Gentleman – Edited by Dian Hanson

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. 250 pages. Published in 2006. Retrospective Monograph on subject. One of the most valuable erotic art books of the 20th century and our time. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, of which are there quite a few. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. A brilliant production by Taschen Verlag: Oversize-volume format. Red cloth boards with titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Art by Tom Poulton. Edited with an Essay by Dian Hanson. Printed on pristine-white, thick-coated stock paper in Germany to the highest standards. The reproduction quality is exemplary in every respect. In pictorial DJ with red printed “wraparound band” (NOT an actual band, but closely resembles one), imitating a vintage erotica title, and titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Presents “Tom Poulton: The Secret Art of An English Gentleman”. The Real Thing: One of the most explicit and genuinely arousing erotic art ever made in the early 20th century, by a secretive Englishman – no less – and at a time of unforgiving Victorian repression. Accomplished draftsmen/painters of our time have asserted that the men and women depicted engaging in the most unabashed sex acts were real, not imaginary, people. The realism of the drawings is so specific, meticulous, and detailed as to suggest as much, unlike Classical and contemporary erotic art, which usually depict archetype figures. These individuals did NOT necessarily pose for Poulton as paid “models”. What is more likely is that the artist knew them, and indeed participated in some of the sex acts himself as part of a secret society that needed the explosive – and also often tender – sexual release that each rendition lovingly depicts. Still, there is also an undeniable imaginative aspect, triggered by Poulton’s and his subjects’ actual experience or fantasy: Almost every drawing shows “in flagrante delicto”, the thrill of being caught in the act by ANOTHER equally lustful, not just curious or voyeuristic, couple or group of people, who then presumably joined in, as committed for posterity by Poulton in his most ecstatic and graphic images: Orgies in which every imaginable, combinatory sex act is enacted. An absolute “must-have” title for Tom Poulton collectors. This title is a great erotic art book. This is one of few copies of the 2006 First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and despite its imperfection (very slight wear on DJ spine, but it’s there) is still in especially fine condition: Every single internal page is clean, crisp, and bright. The cloth boards are sharp, NO bumping at all. Please note: Copies available online have very serious flaws (because they were pored over, repeatedly) or are subsequent editions. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare copy thus. Lavishly illustrated with black-and-white plates. One of the most brilliant artists of the sex act of the 20th century. A fine collectable copy.

Trigger Warning – Adult Content only. Over 18. 

Now in a protective plastic cover to prevent damage.

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