Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$235.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1938 to title page; no other dates found. When this first edition of the purported autobiography of a British woman "of good family" seeking both economic and sexual liberation through prostitution was published by Routledge in 1938, British censors dubbed it "disgusting and obscene." (Because she wasn't of the peasant class, of whom "rutting about in the dirt" would be expected, presumably.) The "Public Morality Council" caused police to "lean on" the publisher, and the book was withdrawn. It was subsequently re-published in Paris by Jack Kahane at his Obelisk Press, but copies of this true first edition remain uncommon. (At a quick glance, we have found no rollicking pornography, but perhaps we just missed the good parts.) NO dust jacket; spine slanted about 3/8ths-inch. 283 pp. Here reduced from $605.
Seller: Cat's Curiosities, Pahrump, NV, U.S.A.
Sheila Cousins. To Beg I am Ashamed. George Routledge and Sons Limited, London, 1938.
Price: US$339.91 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: London: George Routledge and Sons Limited, 1938. First edition of this book a supposed autobiography of a prostitute but regarded as written by Graham Greene and or Ronald Matthews, some say wholly by one or the other others say by both. 283 pages in bright clean condition just the very occassional small foxing spot, NO dustwrapper, outer boards are bright, spine a tiny shade darker than book, very small bump to front bottom corner. A very nice example of this book SEE IMAGES. DETAILED IMAGES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. First Edition First Printing. Boards. Very Good/No Jacket. 7 ¾ x 5 Inches. Hardcover.
Seller: Peter Sheridan Books Bought and Sold, West Molesey, Surrey, United Kingdom
Price: US$1000.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. With small stamp "Overseas Edition" on the verso of the title. Pp. [4], 283, [1]. 1 vols. Sm. 8vo. "Disgusting and Obscene" RARE. BANNED IN LONDON. When originally published its reception was hostile and it was considered "disgusting and obscene. "The Public Morality Council decided that it should be banned and caused the police to "lean on" the publisher so that the book was withdrawn. It was then published in Paris by Jack Kahane at his Obelisk Press, and many times since. Authorship has been attributed to many, including Graham Greene, Jack Kahane and Cecil Barr, but the British Museum's catalogue entry attributes it to Mathews with the "discreet assistance of Graham Greene." The attribution seems now to be discounted, and the book is not considered part of the canon, but it is still of great interest not only for historic Greene associations, but for the fact that it is an important addition to the great body of controversial literature dealing with prostitution, women's sexual and economic liberation. and official hypocrisy. British Museum Catalogue of the SS Collection, No. 17 (Bloomsbury), Patrick J. Kearney, editor Original grey cloth, spine lettered in blue. Extremities rubbed, spine slightly darkened, one inch tear along lower portion of upper joint, corners knocked., internally clean and sound Pp. [4], 283, [1]. 1 vols. Sm. 8vo First Edition. With small stamp "Overseas Edition" on the verso of the title.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.