44

ROBERT McALMON [aka ROBERT SCULLY] (1895-1956)

A Scarlet Pansy.
Likely near-contemporary variant reprint edition, octavo, portrait frontispiece, very good in publisher's original red cloth, with the dust jacket printed in black and white only and a list of twenty-three "Big Dollar Books" on the back panel, 20x13 cm. New York: William Faro, 1933 [or later].

A vivid depiction of queer life in the early twentieth century, told through the coming-of-age story of Fay Etrange, the gender and sexual non-conforming protagonist. Pseudonymously written, modern scholars attribute the work to Robert McAlmon, poet and publisher of many important authors, including Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, H.D., Ezra Pound, and others.
The publisher, Samuel Roth (1893-1974), was a prolific producer and retailer of banned books on a variety of racy subjects who served time in jail for peddling obscene and banned materials. In his landmark Supreme Court case, Roth v. United States (1957), the Constitutional test for determining what constitutes obscenity was modified and redefined, laying the groundwork for subsequent easing of government control of sexual expression under the First Amendment. This edition itself may be pirated, as noted in Gertzman's Bookleggers and Smuthounds. "Four of Roth's Faro titles [including A Scarlet Pansy] were issued from 1933 throughout the rest of the decade under two imprints seemingly unauthorized by him." Although this copy bears the Faro imprint, and lists other circa 1933 Roth titles on the back panel of the dust jacket, the binding and its paper label differ from other recorded copies of the first edition, and the jacket is printed in black and white only, whereas early jackets are printed in black and red.New York: William Faro, 1933 [or later].


Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

August 13, 2020 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 30% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000