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THBNew Orleans Blue Book, Guide to Storyville
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
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About Auction
LiveJun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (392)
- Lot Description
[Struve, Billy, attrib.] Blue Book. [New Orleans], n.d. 16mo, blue printed wraps, 96 unnumbered pp.
In 1897, in an attempt to control prostitution, New Orleans created a district just inland from the French Quarter in which prostitution would be legal, modeled on similar districts in European cities. The legislation was written by city alderman Sidney Story, and, much to his consternation, "The District" (as it was known to the locals) acquired the nickname "Storyville." Shortly after, the first "Blue Books" were published, the earliest appearing about 1898 and the latest about 1915. There are about 16 recognized editions, but may well be more since few were dated. Special editions for the Mardi Gras season were published some years.
These guides had covers of all colors; "blue" referred to their contents, which was a guide to the pleasures available in "The District," although no specific acts or prices were listed. A few early editions did list some women as "French," which appears to relate to a specialty of fellatio rather than their nationality. The guides break down the working women by race - white, colored, and "octoroon," a designation of mixed ancestry. The earliest guides also noted Jewish women, although this apparently later edition does not make that distinction.
The women are listed alphabetically, with the white listings first, followed by octoroon (only one page) and colored. Madams are in capital letters. A few pages are mixed, titled "Late Arrivals." These lists are followed by listings of cabarets (noted as "white" or "colored" - which is interesting, since it was illegal for blacks to enter the district). The end has descriptions of 23 of the establishments, some identified by name, others by Madam. The Arlington, for example, bills itself as: "Absolutely and unquestionably the most decorative and costly fitted out sporting palace ever placed before the American public." Or, "Miss (May) Evans is one woman among the fair sex who is regarded as an all-round jolly good fellow, and one which is always laughing and making all those around her do likewise....The signal of May's mansion is: 'Let's all live and enjoy life while we can.'" Emma Johnson's "The Studio" ad has the only photograph of the establishment.
Although not specifically acknowledged, these guides were thought to have been edited by Billy Struve and published by Tom Anderson, the unofficial mayor of Storyville. Billy was a former police reporter and became Anderson's restaurant manager. In this edition, Anderson has an ad on the first inside advertising page (the ads are mostly on the left pages, information about "pleasure houses" on the right pages) and the rear cover. The other ads are primarily for alcohol, especially whiskies (bourbon and rye seemed to be popular), but also beer, wine and gin and cigars, obvious accompaniments to an evening in The District. There are also ads for glassware, lawyers, a drug store, taxis, sparkling and ozone waters, candy, piano tuners, a laundry specializing in cleaning corsets, and even jewelry.
Although these were printed by the thousands, very few seem to have survived. A few authors have suggested that men disposed of them before their wives found them.
Wear to wraps along spine, most corners torn. Internally clean with no toning. Cover is detaching, but still hanging in there.Condition
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