TICE, Clara. LOUYS, Pierre. ~ Adventures of King Pausole.
Translated from the French. 10 colour plates, heightened in gilt and silver, plus an additional 5 original erotic dry-point etchings. One of 35 rare ‘special’ copies inscribed by the artist ‘Special, Clara Tice’, extra-illustrated with the 5 original erotic dry-point etchings hand-coloured by the artist. The total edition was of 990 copies, 930 of which were for sale. 8vo., this copy specially bound in full deluxe red morocco with a central saucy emblem blocked in gilt from a design by Tice on the upper cover, both sides with a gilt fillet border and tooled in gilt with elaborate corner floral sprays, spine in compartments with raised bands, each panel with a gilt crown or gilt lettering, gilt inner dentelles, top edge gilt, others uncut. A little wear to extremities, subtle repair to hinges and joints rubbed but generally a very good copy.
With an illustrated inscription on the half title signed by Tice “To Captain Edwin Callahan” with an drawing of a reclining female nude.
Clara Tice was famous for her bohemian dress and lifestyle, her dadaist affiliation and her nudes. In 1915, Tice "became an overnight sensation" when one of her early exhibitions, at Polly’s Restaurant in Greenwich Village, drew the venom of anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock.
Louys was a French poet and writer, particularly known for his classical and lesbian themes and erotic texts. The erotic novel, King Pausole, was first published in 1901 telling a story of the fortunate monarch who lived with a harem of young queens, one for each night of the year. This English translation was printed for the Pierre Louys Society which produced French literary erotica to a keen New York audience. Adding illustrations by the notorious Tice was a masterstroke and ensured excellent sales. Captain Callahan must have been thrilled with his inscribed copy.