Immoral, Licentious, and Obscene

Banned Books and Drawings in France 1814-1850
(D - G)


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. DÉLICES DE LA JOUISSANCE

    Ou L'Enfant du Plaisir

    – Judgement of the Cour royale de Paris on June 28, 1825.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  2. DESSINS

    Obscene engravings.

    Displayed and sold by Louis-Jules Guerrier

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

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

  3. DESSINS OBSCÈNES

    Manufactured and sold by Madigné and the husband Marchal.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on June 23, 1844.

    – It does not appear that Madigné nor Marchal were sentenced or fined.

  4. DIABLE AU CORPS, LE

    By the auther of Félicia ou Mes fredaines. 6 volumes.

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public 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.

    Le Diable au Corps, written by Andrea de Nerciat, was firsr published in 1801, done in 3 volumes with 20 plates after Bornet. An 1865 edition was published in Bruxelles by Auguste Poulet-Malassis with 12 plates attributed to Félicien Rops.

  5. DICTIONNAIRE

    Anecdotique des nymphes du Palais-Royal, by Lepage.

    – Condemned as an ashamed subject.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on December 15, 1826.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  6. DICTIONNAIRE FÉDAL

    By Collin of Plancy

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

    – Condemned for outrages against good and 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.

  7. DIVINITÉS GÉNÉRATRICES

    Ou Culte de Phallus chez les anciens et chez les modernes, by Dulaure

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on October 27, 1826.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  8. DIX ANS DE LA VIE D'UNE FEMME

    With figures

    Sold by Pierre Bon.

    – Condemmed for outrages against good and public 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.

  9. DOMINICAIN, LE

    Ou Crimes de l'intolérance et effets du célibat religieux

    – Condemmed for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on July 12, 1827.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  10. DON DU MOUCHOIR, LE

    Lithographie.

    Sold by Rénier Becker

    – Condemned for outrages against 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.

  11. DOUZE SUJETS DU JOUR

    Collection of drawings

    Sold by Rénier Becker

    – Condemned for outrages against 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.

  12. ÉDUCATION DE LAURE

    Ou Le Rideau levé. 2 volumes. 6 engravings.

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

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Vienne on December 12, 1838.

    – Clouzot and both the Porteriés were fined 10 francs.

    Written by Marquis de Santilly, the first appearance of "Le Rideau Levé" was in 1786.

  13. ÉGAREMENTS DE JULIE, LES

    By Dorat

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on July 12, 1828.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  14. ÉGIDE CONTRE LE MAL DE VÉNUS

    By Morel

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on January 10, 1827.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  15. EMBARRAS DU CHOIX, L'

    Obscene engraving.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on January 14, 1822.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  16. ENFANT DU B..., L'

    2 volumes. In-12. 6 engravings.

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

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Vienne on December 12, 1838

    – Clouzot and both the Porteriés were fined 10 francs.

    This title may possibly be "L'Enfant du Bordel", written by Charles Pigault de l'Épinoy dit Pigault-Lebrun (c.1753-1835), which was first published in 1800 as "Les Aventures de Chérubin".

  17. ENFANT DU CARNAVAL, L'

    Sold by Jean-Nicholas Barba

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on June 25, 1825

    – Barba was sentenced to 8 months in prison and fined 16 francs.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on February 26, 1827

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  18. ENFANT DU MARDI-GRAS, L'

    Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  19. ENFANT DU RÊGIMENT, L'

    Obscene engraving

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on June 30, 1818

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  20. ENTRETIENS DE DEUX AMANTS

    Brochure sold by Pierre Agasse (travelling merchant)

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Confiscated ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de Lons-le-Saunier on December 14, 1826

  21. ÊPITRE

    Aux amis des missionnaires

    By Cahaigne

    – Condemned for outrages against good and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on December 5, 1826

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  22. ÊPITRE A MERCURE

    Brochure (14 pages) sold by Alexis Lagarde

    – Insults against the ministers of the Catholic religion.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on March 13, 1823

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

  23. ÊPITRE A MON CURÉ

    Alexis Lagarde (seller); printed by Lanoé

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

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on March 13, 1823

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

  24. ERROTICA BIBLION

    By Mirabeau

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on December 19, 1826

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  25. ESQUISSES MORALES

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public 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.

  26. ÉTRENNES AUX AMATEURS DE VÉNUS

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  27. ÉTRENNES MIGNONNES

    Collection 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.

  28. ÉTUDE LÉGISLATIVES

    By Charles-Jean Bonnin; printed by Jean-Erasme Kleffer

    – Serious insults against all religions.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on November 7, 1822.

    – Bonnin was sentenced to 13 months in prison and fined 5,000 francs; Kleffer to 3 months in prison and fined 1,500 francs.

  29. ÉVANGILE DU PEUPLE, L'

    By Henri-Alphonse Esquiros

    – Brochure published by Aguste-Pierre Legallois

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

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on January 30, 1841.

    – Esquiros was sentenced to 8 months in prison and fined 500 francs. It does not appear that Legallois was sentenced or fined.

  30. EXTASES DE L'AMOUR

    Obscene engraving

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

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

    – 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.

  31. FASTES, RUSES ET INTRIGUES DE LA GALANTERIE

    Ou Tableau de l'amour et du plaisier

    Brochure

    Alexandre Baudouin, the elder (bookseller), Jean-François Therry (bookseller) and Tesson (bookseller)

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on December 8, 1835

    – Baudouin, Therry and Tesson were aquitted.

  32. FÉLICIA OU MES FREDAINES

    By the author of Diable au Corps. 4 volumes.

    Sold by Pierre Lagier

    – Condemned by police correctionnelle de la Seine on October 18, 1822.

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

    – Lagier was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 100 francs. Aquitted on December 21, 1822

    Sold by Rénier 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.

    Félicia, written by Andrea de Nerciat, was first published in 1776.

  33. FILLE DE JOIE, LA

    2 volumes with figures.

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau

    – Condemmed for outrage against good 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.

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

    – Destruction ordered by the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on March 25, 1825

    – 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.

    Also known as "Fanny Hill". Written by John Cleland (1709-1789), Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure was printed by Thomas Parker and published in London by G. Fenton [Fenton Griffiths, pseud. for Ralph Griffiths] in 1748. The second volume followed in early February 1749. Cleland wrote the story while serving a sentence for debt in Fleet Prison in hopes of selling enough copies to pay off his debts. The first French translation was published in 1751 as "La Fille de Joye".

  34. FOU.....NIE, LA

    Poem in six songs.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    – The full title is probably "La Foutro-Manie"

  35. GALANTERIES DE LA BIBLE, LES

    By Parny

    – Condemned for attacks against religion.

    – Destruction ordered by the tribunal correctionnel de Coutances on August 30, 1826

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine-Inférieure on February 24, 1843

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  36. GALERIE DES GARDES FRANÇAISES

    Book of six drawings, all entitled Garde française.

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemmed for outrages against good and public 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.

    Sold by Pierre Bon

    – 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.

  37. GAUDRIOLES DE M. GAILLARD, LES

    Collection of songs entitled: (1) La Bataille de Novi (2) Suite de la Bataille de Novi (3) Le Garde Champétre (4) M. et Mme. Mayeux (5) Conseil � un ami (6) Epithalame (7) Il faut souffrir pour le plaisier (8) La Charge en douze temps (9) Le Jugement de P�aris (10) Halte-;� (11) Je ne le ferai plus (12) La Solliciteuse

    Eric-Jean Rameau (jeweller and hawker), Gaillard (public crier).

    – Condemned for outrages against public and good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on March 30, 1843

    – Rameau was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 16 francs. Gaillard was not sentenced or fined.

  38. GAUDRIOLES (PETITES)

    Sold by Jean Redonnet (merchant hawker).

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the tribunal correctionnel de Vannes on April 29, 1922.

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

  39. GRAVURES A SUJETS OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Louis-Jules Guerrier (lithography printer).

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

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

  40. GRAVURES ATTENTATOIRES AUX BONNES MŒURS

    Sold by Edme Desmaisons (merchant of engravings).

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on October 29, 1833.

    – Desmaisons was aquitted.

    Published by Félix-Alexandre Collette; Sold by the female Bouilly [no first name noted].

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on January 29 and March 23, 1833

    – Collette was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 500 francs; Bouilly to 3 months in prison and fined 150 francs.

  41. GRAVURES OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Jean-François Carlier.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on May 25, 1820.

    – Carlier was fined 10 francs.

  42. GRAVURES OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Jean-Marie Mandement.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on November 27, 1835.

    – Mandement was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 16 francs.

  43. GRAVURES OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Ambroise-Félix Bourguin (printer) and Victor Peru (traveling merchant).

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on March 4, 1842.

    – Bourguin was sentenzed to 15 months in prison and fined 50 francs; Peru to 6 months in prison and fined 16 francs.

  44. GRAVURES OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Mayer.

    – 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.

  45. GRAVURES ET DESSINS OBSCÈMES

    Sold by Agustin-Emmanuel Dauty (merchant of prints)

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 30 1837.

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

  46. GRAVURES ET OUVRAGES OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Barat (wax merchant).

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de l'Orne on July 4, 1820.

    – Barat was sentenced to 4 months in prison and fined 16 francs.

  47. GRAVURES ET RECUEILS DE GRAVURES

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages 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.

  48. GRAVURES REPRÉSENTANT PLUSIEURS IMAGES OBSCÈNES

    Jacques Bignon (cutler).

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on April 27, 1820.

    – Bignon 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