Immoral, Licentious, and Obscene

Banned Books and Drawings in France 1814-1850
(A - C)


This list is taken from the catalogue "Catalogue des Écrits, Gravures et Dessins condamnes Depuis 1814 jusqu'au 1st janivie 1850". Published Paris: Librairie Adolphe Delhays, 1850; specifically chapter "Écrits, gravures, lithographies et dessins immoraux, liceneieux et obscenes". Notes to the Checklist: Bookseller Jean-Baptiste Rousseau should not be confused with author Jean-Jacques Rosseau. Annotations are my own.




  1. A BON ENTENDEUR, SALUT

    Ou Description Topographique

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, Libraire à Paris.

    – Condemned for outrage against public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on November 16, 1822.

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

  2. ABRÉGÉ DE L'HISTOIRE

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842.

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  3. ABRÉGÉ DE L'ORIGINE DE TOUS LE CULTES

    By Dupuis

    Sold by Adolphe Chasseriau, libraire-éditeur, à Paris.

    – Condemned for outrages against religious and universal morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on June 26, 1823.

    – It does not appear that Chasseriau was sentenced or fined.

    Sold by Furcy-Devaux (hawker and window dresser)

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on May 31, 1826.

    – Furcy-Devaux was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 16 francs.

  4. ABSURDITÉ DES RELGIONS PRÉTENDUES RÉVÉLÉES

    By Joseph-Toussaint Michel

    – Condemned for attacks against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on April 15, 1844.

    – It not appear that Michel was sentenced or fined.

  5. ACADÉMIE DES DAMES, L'

    A work with obscene engravings

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, Libraire à Paris.

    – Condemmed for outrage against public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on November 16, 1822.

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

    L'Académie des dames, written by Nicolas Chorier, was first published in Latin in c.1659 as Satyra Sotadica. The first French translation appeared in 1680 (à Ville-Franche, chez Michel Blanchet) and later in 1749 as Nouvelle Traduction de Meursius. The first English translation may have appeared in 1682 as The School of Women but definitely in 1684 as A Dialogue Between a Married Lady and a Maid; for which William Cademan was prosecuted for "exposing, selling, uttering and publishing the pernicious, wicked, scandalous vicious and illicit book".

  6. ALBUM HÉRÉTIQUE

    Sold by Rénier Becker

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842.

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  7. A L'IMMORTALITÉ

    François, encore un effort.

    Brochure.

    Published by François Rouanet, libraire à Paris: Blondeau, printer.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on November 20 1848.

    – Rouanet was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 2000 francs. It does not appear that the printer was sentenced or fined.

  8. ALINE ET VALCOUR

    Ou le Roman Philosophique, par [Marquis] de Sade.

    – Condemmed for outrage against public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on May 19, 1815.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Aline et Valcour was first published in 1795 in 4 small volumes (3 1/8" x 5 1/8"). There were three different printings, with the only differences being in the title pages (one of which bears the date 1793) and in the number of engravings (14 in first two printings, 16 in the third).

  9. AMANT HEUREUX, L'

    Obscene engraving

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on January 14 1822.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  10. AMANT PRESSANT, L'

    Obscene engraving

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on January 14 1822.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  11. AMANT SURPRIS, L'

    Obscene engraving

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on January 14 1822.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  12. AMOUR ET LA GUERRE, L'

    Ou Thélène. 4 volumes.

    By Henri-Joseph-Victor Ducange.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on January 29, 1824.

    – Ducange was sentenced to 2 months in prison plus a fine of 100 francs

  13. AMOURS DE BONAPARTE, LES

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on April 3, 1825.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  14. AMOURS DES DIEUX PAPAIENS, LES

    Sold by Regnier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrage to good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842.

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  15. AMOURS DE N S.P. LE PAPE, LES

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, Librairie à Paris.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on November 16, 1822.

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

  16. AMOURS SECRÈTES DE M. MAYEUX

    Écrites par lui-même.

    Sold by Pierre Bon.

    – Condemned for outrages to public and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine-Inférieure on September 8, 1844.

    – Bon was sentenced to 5 months in prison and fined 6000 francs.

    Authorship is attributed to Charles Joseph Traviès de Villers. The first appearance of this work was in 1832 with 12 lithographs by Villers.

  17. ANGUILLE, L'

    Chanson

    Sold by Pierre-Marie-Michel-Eugene de Pradel.

    – Condemned for outgrage to good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on November 16 1822.

    – Pradel was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 1000 francs.

  18. ANTHOLOGIE ÉROTIQUE

    – Condemned for outgrage to good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de Paris on March 7, 1823.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  19. APRÈS LA VICTOIRE

    Engraving sold by Louis-Victor Deshayes and Marie-Gabrielle Goin.

    – Condemned for outrages to public and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on November 28, 1845.

    – Deshayes was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 500 francs. It appears Goin was not sentenced or fined.

  20. APPRÊTS DU BAL, LES

    Engravings sold by Regnier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages to public and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842.

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  21. ARÉTIN FRANÇAIS, L'

    A volume with engravings.

    André Besson (merchant hawker), Jean-Hémerie Bourraut (manufacturer), Jean-Pierre Cottenet (printer, engravings) and Jean-Jacques Merlot (painter)

    – Condemned for outrages to public and good morals.

    – February 25. 1825 - Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine

    – Besson was sentenced to 3 months in prison and fined 200 francs; Bourraut to 1 month in prison and fined 3,500 francs; Cottenet to 3 months in prison and fined 200 francs; and Merlot to 3 months in prison and fined 200 francs.

    Guyonnet [not noted if seller, publisher, buyer, etc.]

    – Condemned for outgrages to good morals.

    – March 2, 1832 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine

    – It does not appear that Guyonnet was sentenced or fined

    Jean-François Salagnay (merchant hawker)

    – Condemned for outgrages to good morals.

    – February 9, 1842 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine o

    – Sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined 100 francs.

    Written by Félix Nogaret (1740-1831), L'Arétin Français first appeared in 1787 with 19 engravings.

  22. ATTENTE VOLUPTUEUSE, L'

    Obscene Engraving.

    – March 7, 1823 - Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Engraving sold by Regnier Becker

    – August 9, 1842 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine.

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  23. AVENTURES DIVERTISSANTES DU DUC DE ROQUELAURE

    Suivant les mémoires trouvés dans le cabinet du maréchal d'H...

    Jean-Pierre-Auguste Lottin (printer), Paul-Joseph Bouquin (publisher)

    – Condemned for outrages to public and good morals.

    – August 12, 1826 - Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine

    –Both Lottin and Bouquin were fined 16 francs.

    Printed by François Chassaignon

    – April 26, 1842 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine

    – Chassaignon was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 100 francs.

  24. BIBLE DE LA LIBERTÉ

    Alphonse Constant (priest), Auguste-Pierre Legallois (publisher).

    – Condemned for attacks against property and outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on May 11, 1841

    – Constant was sentenced to 8 months in prison and fined 500 francs. Legallois was sentenced to 3 months in prison and fined 300 francs.

  25. BIBLIOTHÈQUE DES ROMANS

    Book of obscene engravings.

    Sold by Mayer [first name unknown]

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on April 11, 1843

    – Mayer was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 500 francs.

  26. BIJOU DE SOCIÉTÉ, LE

    Obscene engraving.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on May 19, 1915

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  27. BIJOUS [sic] INDISCRETS, LES

    Roman Érotique, by Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

    Jean-Baptiste Artiques (hawker).

    – Condemned for outrages against public, religious and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de Nord on February 2, 1835

    – Artiques was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 500 francs.

    The only work of fiction written by Diderot that was long enough to be considered a novel published during his lifetime. Two editions of Les Bijoux Indiscrets were first published in Paris in 1748; one with the false imprint of 'Pékin' and one with the false imprint of 'Au Monomotapa' [Both 2 volumes. Vol.1: Frontispiece + 4 engravings; Vol.2: 2 engravings]. Diderot wrote the book after a dare, more or less, from his mistress who told him he was unable to write stories in the manner of Crébillon fils. An English translation appeared in 1749 as Les Bijoux indiscrets. Or, the Indiscreet Toys, published in London.

  28. BON SENS DU CURÉ MESLIER, LE

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – August 20, 1824 - Destruction ordered per the Judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Jean-Baptiste Artiques (hawker)

    – February 22, 1835 - Destruction ordered per the Cour d'assises de Nord

    – Artiques was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 500 francs.

    Spony (Merchant hawker)

    – September 1, 1837 - Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Douai

    – Spony was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 500 francs.

    Henri Clouzot (bookseller), Antoine Porterié (merchant hawker), Bertrand Porterié (merchant hawker)

    – December 12, 1838 - Destruction ordered per the Cour d'assises de la Vienne

    – Clouzot and both the Porteriés were fined 10 francs.

  29. CACOMONADE

    Ou Histoire du Mal de Naples, by Linguet

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau

    – Condemned for outrage against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on November 16, 1822

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

  30. CADRAN DE LA VOLUPTÉ, LE

    Published and sold by Regnier Becker.

    – Condemned for attacks against public and good morals

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

    Probably a pamphlet, this work first appeared in 1792.

  31. CAPUCINS, LES

    Ou Le Secret du Cabinet noir, by Faverolles

    – Condemned for outrages against public morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on December 21, 1822

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  32. CARTONNAGES

    à Sujets Obscènes

    Louis-Jules Guerrier (lithographie printer)

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on April 29, 1845

    – It does not appear that Guerrier was sentenced or fined.

  33. CÉCILE

    Ou La Nouvelle Félicia

    – Condemned for outrage good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on August 5, 1828

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  34. CHANDELLE D'ARRAS, LA

    Poëme héroï-comique, by Dulaurens

    Sold by Pierre Lagier

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals

    – December 21, 1822 - Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris

    – Lagier was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 100 francs.

    François-Hippolyte Lebègue (bookseller), Germain-Félix Locquin (printer)

    – September 17, 1835 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine

    – Both Lebègue and Aquitted Locquin were aquitted.

  35. CHANSON

    Distributed and sold by Finot (wine grower).

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de l'Abue on August 11, 1843

    – Finot was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 25 francs.

  36. CHANSON AU XIX SIÈCLE

    Delivery of three songs entitled: (1) La femme d'un homme public (2) Le mauvais sujet (3) Zon, ma Lisette!

    Distributed by Charles Durand.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on February 10, 1847

    – Durand was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 100 francs.

  37. CHANSONNIER DES B....., LE

    Sold by Regnier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842

    – Becker was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  38. CHANSONNIER DU B....., LE

    Collection of obscene and licencieuse engravings.

    Sold by Marie-Gabrielle Goin.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on November 25, 1845

    – Goin was sentenced to 4 months in prison and fined 500 francs.

  39. CHANSONNIER DES FILLES D'AMOUR, LE

    Sold by Regnier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and good morals

    – August 9, 1842 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine

    – Becker was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 200 francs.

    Sold by Pierre Bon

    – September 8, 1844 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine-Inférieure

    – Bon was sentenced to 5 months in prison and fined 6000 francs.

  40. CHANSONNIER DE LA TABLE ET DU LIT

    Sold by Jean Redonnet.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de Vannes on April 29, 1822

    – Redonnet was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 16 francs.

  41. CHANSONS DE BÉRANGER

    Titles: (1) Le Bon Dieu (2) Les Capucins (3) Les Chantres de paroisse (4) Deo Gratias (5) Descente aux Enfers (6) Les Missionnaires (7) Mon Curé (8) Le Roi Christophe

    Pierre-Jean Béranger (poet)

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – December 8, 1821 - Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine

    – Béranger was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 50 francs

    Jean-Baptiste Rousseau (bookseller)

    – November 16, 1822 - Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

    Furcy-Devaux (hawker and window dresser)

    – May 31, 1826 - Destruction ordered by the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine

    Furcy-Devaux was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 16 francs.

  42. CHANSONS JOYEUSES

    Sold by Jean Redonnet

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de Vannes on April 29, 1822

    – Redonnet was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 16 francs.

  43. CHANSONS DE PIRON, COLLÉ ET GALLET

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on December 22, 1822

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  44. CHAT CHÉRI, LE

    Obscene engraving.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on January 14, 1822

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  45. CHEMISE DE LA COURTISANE, LA

    Lithographie by Dreuille

    Published by Ligny and Dupaix.

    – Condemned for outrage against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises on November 27, 1832

    – It does not appear that Ligny nor Dupaix were sentenced or fined.

  46. CHEMISE DE LA GRUSETTE

    Lithographie by Dreuille.

    Published by Ligny and Dupaix.

    – Condemned for outrage against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises on November 27, 1832

    – It does not appear that Ligny nor Dupaix were sentenced or fined.

  47. CONFESSIONS DU CHEVALIER DE WILFORTE

    – Condemned for outrage against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on August 5, 1828.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  48. CONFESSIONS DE CLÉMENTINE

    Followed by Ormin et Azéma

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

    – Condemned for outrage against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on November 16, 1822

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

  49. CONTES ÉROTIQUES ET POÉSIES DE GRÉCOURT

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on November 16, 1843.

    – The charges against Rousseau were discharged owing to lack of notification of the charges[?] directed against him concerning the sale of the book.

  50. COUP DE VENT, LE

    Obscene engraving.

    Sold by Regnier Becker.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 9, 1842

    – Becker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  51. COUSIN MATHIEU, MON

    By Charles-Louis Raban.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on October 19, 1824

    – Raban was sentenced to 2 months in prison and fined 16 francs.

  52. CURÉ CAPITAINE, LE

    By Charles-Louis Raban

    – Condemned for outrages against public, religious and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on October 19, 1824

    – Raban was sentenced to 2 months in prison and fined 16 francs.






Sources Used

•  Catalogue des Écrits, Gravures et Dessins. Paris: Librairie Adolphe Delhays, 1850

•  Darnton, Robert. The Forbidden Best-Sellers of Pre-Revolutionary France. W.W. Norton & Co., 1995

•  Dictionnaire des Œuvres Érotiques. Mercure de France, 1971.

•  Dutel, Jean-Pierre. Bibliographie des Ouvrages Érotiques. Paris: 2001.

•  Englisch, Paul. Irrgarten der Erotik. Auflage, 1965.

•  Foxon, David. Libertine Literature in England 1600-1745. NY: University Books, 1965

•  Kearney, Patrick. A History of Erotic Literature. London: Macmillan, 1982

•  Lély, Gilbert. The Marquis de Sade, a Biography. London: Elek Books Limited, 1961

•  Peakman, Julie. Mighty Lewd Books. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003