Manson, George. Kissing: the art of osculation, curiously, historically, humorously, and poetically considered. Brooklyn, NY: Union Book, 1888. 5-½ x 4-⅛ in., 103 pp.; small loss to forecorner on title page, stapled with orig. illus. wrapper present but with loss at spine, front cover separated, later tipped in to title-page, good.
Charming book on the history of kissing with hundreds of anecdotes including “how to kiss and how to receive a kiss,” “when you may kiss with impunity,” “men kissing each other [...],” “humorous stories of kissing in tunnels,” “kissing customs of different countries,” and “the kiss of death.” Makes “a nice little present for a lady.”
The illustrated wrapper by A.T. Lumley, with its uncommon depiction of two men kissing is not mentioned in 2 of the 3 existing OCLC records (Library of Congress, USC), and is not present in the final (UFL) copy.
SOLD