Album of Erotic Photos from the Early 20th Century

Wraps. Very Good. 8vo. 18 by 13 cm. Unpaginated, 32 pp., with a photo of a nude, or sparingly clad, woman or girl on every page. The photos would appear to have been from the teens, when the vamp (think Theda Bara) was at its apogee in terms of erotic appeal. Many of the women are lolling as if in a harem. They are generally bedizened with jewels, but what garments they have on is of a see-through sheer fabric. Most of the women can be described as voluptuous in their carriage -- the twenties ideal of slender had not yet taken hold. And their hair-styles are generally quite thick and full, as characterized the pre-bob 20th century. They ooze, though, (truncated) an unabashed, uninhibited sexuality, sometimes dangerous, with the shackles of Victorian scruples cast aside. Stylistically one can also see the influence of the Germanic Jugendstil in their jewels and their decadent air. The photos look as if they were cut from magazines and possibly were later copies, although we will note that the back of the one we could inspect was blank. (Inventory #: 004282)