Nov 21 at 10:30 AM - Sale 2687 -
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Sale 2687 - Lot 170

Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(LOUISIANA.) "Blue Book" guide to the Storyville red light district in New Orleans. [96] pages in red and black ink. 16mo, original wrappers, worn, rebacked with tape, rear wrapper detached; long tear and wear to final leaf, otherwise moderate wear to contents. In early full morocco slipcase, moderate wear. [New Orleans, LA], circa 1912
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Additional Details

The Storyville neighborhood of New Orleans was a legal prostitution zone from 1897 through 1917. These guidebooks were issued regularly for the use of customers. They each include an alphabetical directory of white prostitutes, followed by a "colored" section, full-page text advertisements for several madams, and numerous other advertisements for cigars, liquor, taverns, taxis, and more.

Pamela Arceneaux's bibliography, "Guidebooks to Sin: The Blue Books of Storyville" (which supersedes Heartman's 1936 effort), notes some special points for this issue, listed as #9. This was the last of the Blue Books advertising the discontinued French balls, and introduces the lyre printing ornament on the wrappers (here printed upside down). It is the only edition with a separate listing for "octoroons." The likely date is established by a full-page ad for Lamothe's City Park Restaurant (established in 1912). It does not have an edition number, but is thought to be the 11th. As usual, the third leaf bears a bold "This Book Must Not Be Mailed" notice, in deference to the Comstock Law. Billy Struve, a police reporter with the New Orleans Item, is thought to be the editor of the entire Blue Book series.

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