Collection of Genre Fiction Featuring Illustrations of Apes and Women [1890-1994] by Various

Hardcover and Wraps. Very Good to Near Fine+. Hardcover and Wraps. 55 titles, primarily adult/erotica, horror, noir, mystery, and science-fiction; in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, and Russian; includes two non-fiction and four graphic novel or serial examples. Many pseudonymous or lacking complete publishing data. Detailed list of contents below.
The collection documents the enduring racialized fantasy of women menaced by apes, responding to colonialism and shifts in scientific understanding and popular culture during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. European accounts of sexual relationships between apes and women, with abduction and rape themes, date back to at least the 11th-century in St Peter Damian's De Bono religiosi status et variorum animatium tropologia (1061) and his description of a Ligurian count cuckolded by a monkey (as told to him by Pope Alexander II!). John Donne's Metempsychosis (1633) includes an ape who seduces one of Adam's daughters; a later example is the the femicide in Edgar Allen Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) by an orangutan.
Gorillas were distinguished as a species in the 1840s; adult specimens were displayed for the first time in Paris in 1852; and Darwin's Origin of the Species was published in 1859. Growing popular fascination with the physical and evolutionary kinship of apes and human followed, and the more specific gorilla|woman "tale type" emerged: this collection includes many examples from the 1920s-1940s building on and responding to the narrative structure and popularity of the Tarzan stories (1912 onward) and King Kong (1933).
In the one hundred years of publishing represented, endless variations on the theme emerge, but the confusion or failure of moral and species categories continues. Men become apes, apes become men, doomed and violent romances with white women ensue. The protagonists change over time and across genre (travelogues, future noir, LGBTQ, S&M, occult) but the vocabulary of impenetrable jungles, dark Africa, and helpless/drugged/sleeping women persist. The visualization of apes and women is based on a number of extremely racist prototypes, notably sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet's Gorilla Abducting a Woman (1887) and his earlier, now destroyed, Gorilla Abducting a Negress (1859).
Important early examples in this group include Von einem Gorilla entführt (Philadelphia, 1867; 1890) and Tragedja odm odzonej kobiety (Krakow, 1929).
See Georges Dodds, "Monkey-Spouse Sees Children Murdered, Escapes to Freedom! [...]" E.L.O. 11-12 (2005-2006), pp. 73-96 and Marek Zgórniak, et al. "Fremiet's Gorillas: Why Do They Carry off Women?" Artibus et Historiae, 27:54, (2006), pp. 219-37.
CONTENTS:
Nonfiction:
Annan, David. Ape: Monster of the Movies. New York: Bounty Books, 1975. 25.5 cm, 93 pp.; cloth with orig. illus. dj, VG.
J.A. Richards, Inc. The First Story Ever Told [cover title]. New York, NY: Np, 1924. 18 cm, 26 pp.; trade cat. for a 20 vol. illus. "Library". Stapled pictorial wrappers. VG.
Fiction:
Les Ardeurs de Zoé. Paris: Collection Gauloise, [1926]. 18.5 cm, 48 pp.; no. 59(?) in this erotic novel collection, b/w illus. within, stapled color pictorial wrapper. No North American holdings in OCLC.
The Ape Girl. New York: Star Distributors, 1982. ST 18. 17 cm, 180, (12) pp.; text followed by 12 pp. of advertisements for S&M literature, toys, etc. "Looking up into his simian face, she felt a moment of fear, but it was too late to turn back."
Benjamin, Jack. Sex Between People and Their Pets. North Hollywood, CA: Barclay House, 1971. BH 7174. 17 cm, 187 pp.; previous owner's annotations, some damp stain; color pictorial wrapper, worn. G.
Berry, Bryan. Dread Visitor. London: Panther Books, 1952. PB 28. 18.4 cm, 127 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, rear wrapper lower corner lacking. Fair. "Earth is held in a cloak of terror when a dread visitor descends from the past."
Berthoud, Ferdinand. Legs Parsons. London: The Modern Publishing Company, n.d. (ca 1924-1925). 17.7 cm, 172 pp.; in color pictorial wrapper with illustration by Ellis Silas, wrappers very worn. Color advertisement for Oxo verso. No copies recorded by OCLC in North American institutions.
Braun, Lisa. Captured. First Niter Book. FN 239. Buffalo, NY: 1966. 16.5 cm, 159 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, ink annotation on rear wrapper. G. Not in OCLC, no copies found in the market.
Brown, Fredric. The Dead Ringer. New York: Bantam Books, 1949. BB 361. 16.2 cm, 212 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, sl faded, VG. "Murder Wears an Ugly Mask!"
Caval, Patrice. Savage Breed. Las Vegas: Playtime Books [Neva Paperbacks], 1964. 17.4 cm, 158 pp.; color pictorial wrappers. VG. Carnival Noir. "What good did it do here to try to be a gentleman? Obviously this koooky broad went for beasts ... So Steve let the beast in him take over."
Champsaur, Félicien. Ouha: Roi des Singes. Paris: Charpentier et Fasquelle, 1923 [22e mille]. 19 cm, 292 pp.; cover pictorial wrappers illustrated recto and verso with erotic variations on the woman and ape theme. Illustrations by Lucien Jaquelux (covers) and Edouard Chimot (head- and tailpieces). Text block and wrappers fragile and tones, with losses. From a recent review: "the thematic "missing link" between Burroughs' Tarzan of the Apes (1912) and Edgar Wallace's King Kong (1933)."
Dexter, John. The Sin Veldt. San Diego: Corinth Publications, 1966. 18 cm; 160 pp.; color pictorial wrappers. VG. "With Darvi on safari even the apes went ape!" One holding OCLC.
Diderot, Denis. Les Bijoux Indiscrets. Paris: Editions E.L., nd. [19—]. 18.5 cm, 252 pp.; unopened, color plates, color pictorial DJ in protective cover.
Gamma: New Frontiers in Fiction. Vol. 2, No. 5. North Hollywood, CA: Star Press, 1965. 18.3 cm, 127 pp.; stapled color pictorial wrappers, price in wax pencil on front cover, ink annotations on rear, heavily creased. Featuring a novel by Ron Goulart, "Nesbit," and a story by Ray Bradbury, "A Careful Man Dies."
Goulart's story is an unusual twist on the ape-man fantasy: Nesbit Belgraf is a racist megalomaniac recruiting an army to invade the US and turn it into concentration camps for Jews and Negroes. He's also the survivor of a brain transplant to a gorilla.
Gardner, Erle Stanley. Perry Mason Solves the Case of the Grinning Gorilla. New York: Pocket Books, 1973 [PB edition, orig. 1952]. 17.7 cm, 224 pp.; color pictorial wrappers with cover art from photography
Garland, Curtis. El Yeti. Selección Terror No. 117. Barcelona, Bogota, Buenos Aires, et al.: Editorial Bruguera: 1975. Cover illustration by Alberto Pujolar. 15 cm, 95 pp.; color pictorial wrapper rubbed with creases. G. No OCLC holdings in North America.
Hughes, Dorothy B. The Decliate Ape. New York: Pocket Book, 1944 [this 1947]. PB 422. 16.1 cm, 198 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, separating from endpapers at crown.
, [Ima, Ivo]. [Pokhititeli razuma]. Np, nd. [ - " . ."]. ca. 1940s. 15.3 cm, 187 pp.; novel followed by table of contents; in color pictorial wrappers, spine chipped with loss at head, small closed tear (1cm) to fore edge. 5 North American records in OCLC none on the market.
Jason the Monkey. Np: Stallion Publication, nd. 20.7 cm, 54 pp.; two b/w pls., illus. stapled red wrappers, light wear. Psychiatry and bestiality pornographic fiction.
Kenyon, Paul. [Kenyon Engle, Lyle]. The Baroness: Flicker of Doom. New York: Pocket Books, 1974. 17.8 cm, 222 pp.; 2 pp. color advertisement for Kent Menthol cigarettes bound in; color pictorial wrappers. VG. Cover illus. by Hector Garrido.
Lorrain, Jean. Le Crime des Riches. Paris: Pierre Douville, 1905. 18.8 cm, 320 pp., [8] pp. illus. catalogue of Douville "nouveautés"; in gray paper with color label tipped in. Cover illustration by Guillaume, at least two different versions were produced. Textblock uniformly toned, rear wrapper soiled. VG-.
By the openly gay, Decadent author: "Un étude violente, sincère, presque toujours féroce, du monde aristocratique et gangrené qui peuple la Riviera. Ce livre est un acte d'accusation formidable contre la richesse qui engendre tous les vices et excuse toutes les tares..."
Marmor, Arnold. The 13 Sinners. Chicago: Camerarts, 1960. 18 cm, 128 pp.; color pictorial wrapper. "The 13 sinners, all marked for death!"
Mercier, Mario. La Cuvée de Singes. Paris: Editions Civilisation Nouvelle, 1970. 20. 8 cm, 189, [5] pp.; pictorial wrappers, photomontage by Denise Miège [Simansky]. Wrappers worn and starting at spine. Printed by Simansky, a poet and author of women's erotica.
Monkey Business. Adults Only. Np (California?), Nd. (ca. 1970s). 16.8 cm, 191 pp.; 16 color pls., 9 b/w pls.; color pictorial wrappers. Pseudo-scientific bestiality with low-key (by current standards) photography of women and animals.
Oslow, John, Rev. [Pseudo.]. Von einem Gorilla entführt. Philadelphia: Old Franklin Publishing House, 1890. 23 cm., 61 pp.; 4 b/w pls. with captions, all signed EBB, toned, final 5 leaves with turned corners; faded pink pictorial wrappers, chipped.
German language edition of the novella "Captured by a Gorilla" first published in English and French (simultaneously?) in 1867. This edition is not recorded in OCLC, orig. editions exceedingly rare, one each at the NYPL (Eng.) and Library of Congress (Fr.). Purporting to be a kidnapping story told by Dr. Livingstone, explicitly refuted by him when he found out about the book.
Owen, Dean. Konga. Derby, CN: Monarch Books, 1960. MM 604. 18 cm, 144 pp.; color pictorial wrapper creased, spine splitting with some losses. Fair. Based on, and released at the same time as, the eponymous sci-fi horror film; original story and screenplay by Aben Kandel and Herman Cohen. Few institutional holdings in OCLC.
Peters, Jack. Erica's Erotic Fantasy. Chatworth, CA: Publisher's Consultants, 1977. Secretary Lust Series-104. 17.5 cm, 192 pp.; textblock toned, pictorial wrappers tight and clean. Not found in OCLC.
Reed, David V. The Whispering Gorilla. [London]: [World Fantasy Classics] and [Sydney Pemberton], 1950. 18.2 cm, 159 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, lower edge with crease starting. VG-. "The whole of the dark continent is terrorised by a gigantic gorilla, a gorilla who is not a gorilla, but a man."
Saxon, Vin. Ape Rape. San Diego: Rapture Books, 1964. RB 202. 16.7 cm; 160 pp.; color pictorial wrappers lightly worn at edges. Not in OCLC.
Saxon, Vin. Caged Lust. San Diego: Rapture Books, 1967. 17.6 cm; 158 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, with small diamond holepunch to front cover, textblock toned. A new printing of Ape Rape, names changed and different wraps. Not in OCLC.
Vigny, Benno. Tragedja odm odzonej kobiety (Nell John). [Krakow], [Lwow], et al.: "Lektor" Instytut Literacki, 1929. First Polish Edition. 19 cm, 197 pp.; in color pictorial wrappers by "J. St. Kilian", worn at foot and lower edge. Originally published in German as Nell John. Der Roman einer Verjüngten (Nell John, The Tale of a Rejuvenated Woman).
No OCLC records outside of Poland.
Whitmore, Linda. The Frantic Teeny-Boppers. Brooklyn, NY: Libertine Books, 1970. LR 205. 17.6 cm, 191 pp.; pictorial wrappers creased and sl. faded. G. Not in OCLC.
Williams, J.X. Black Mass Minx. San Diego: Phenix Publishers, 1967. Late-House Library. LL 708. 16.2 cm, 192 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, price marked recto and verso, otherwise VG. Not recorded in OCLC. Protagonist is Jason January, an occult bookstore owner!
Williams, J.X. Mistress-At-Large. San Diego: Phenix Publishers, 1968. Pleasure Reader. PR 138. 17.8 cm; 159 pp.; color pictorial wrappers. VG. "Absolutely everybody went ape for her!" One record in OCLC.
Williams, J.X. The Unsucsexful [sic] Swap. San Diego: Phenix Publishers, 1968. Companion Book. CB 588. 17.7 cm, 159 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, rear wrapper creased at corner. "She had to escape the rapacious ape!"
Graphic Novels and Serials:
Kirby, Jack. The Sandman. Vol. 2, No. 3 (July 1975). New York: DC Comics [National Periodical Publications], 1975. 19 [i.e. 38] pp.; thumbed with creases, starting to fray at corner.
El Libro Rojo, No. 402. (La Cabeza Del Mono). México: Novedades Editores, 1978. 15. 2 cm; color pictorial wrappers. VG.
Sensacional de artes marciales, No. 70. (El Discípulo del Mono Ebrio). México: Editorial Ejea, 1993. 15 cm, 95 pp.; color pictorial wrappers, color comics. VG.
Startling Detective Adventures. Vol. 5, No. 26 (July 1930). Louisville, KY: Fawcett Publications, 1930. 28.3 cm, 98 pp.; profusely illustrated with color pictorial wrappers, spine rubbed with minor loss at foot and crown. G. "Mighigan's Gorilla Murderer." Scarce.
Poetry:
Bernard, Kenneth. The Baboon in the Nightclub: A Poem. Santa Maria: Asylum Arts, 1994. 21.5 cm, 71 pp. B/W cover illustration. Near fine.
[Healey, Greville Giles]. McDill, Alexander. Musings on Big Sur Women and One Ape. Monterey, CA: Angel Press, 1979. 20.8 cm, 45 pp.; cover design by Pousel Productions. Overstrom House, Big Sur.
Voss, Fred and Joan Jobe Smith. The Honeymoon of King Kong & Emily Dickinson. Albuquerque, NM: Zerx Press, 1993. 21.5 cm, 41 pp.; chapbook, ed. of 300; stapled pictorial wrappers, illus. throughout. Condition varies, minimal shelf/edge wear to moderate, some light even toning, else tight, bright, and unmarred. All but one in printed wraps (some glossy, in color), one in black paper boards. Var. sizes (16mo-fo). Var. pag. Illus. (b/w plates).