Immoral, Licentious, and Obscene

Banned Books and Drawings in France 1814-1850
(H - O)


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. HIC ET HOC

    Sold by Jean-François Therry

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on March 7, 1830.

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

  2. HISTOIRE UNIVERSELLE 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.

  3. ILE D'AMOUR

    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.

  4. IMPRIMÉS A SUJECTS OBSCÈNES

    Sold by Louis-Jules Guerrier (lithography printer).

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

    – It does not appear that Guerrier was sentenced or fined for this particular offense.

  5. INCRÉDULE, L'

    Ou, Les Deux artuefs. 2 volumes. In-12.

    Sold by Charles-Louis Raban.

    – Condemned for outrages to good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on March 14, 1825.

    – Raban was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 300 francs.

  6. INDISCRET, L

    Sold by Léon Laurier.

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine-Infrieure on December 22, 1833.

    – Laurier was sentenced to 3 months in prison and fined 500 francs.

  7. INTÉRIEUR D'UNE GRILLE, L'

    Obscene engraving

    Published by Aubert and Besnard.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on October 31, 1833.

    – It does not appear that Aubert nor Besnard were sentenced or fined.

  8. INDISCRET, L'

    Obscene engraving

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  9. JACQUES LE FATALISTE

    By Diderot

    Sold by Furcy-Devaux (hawker and window dresser)

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

    – 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.

  10. JOUJOU DES DEMOISELLES, LE

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    The author is attributed to abbé Jouffreau de Lazarie. This work was first published in c.1750 with illustrations by Eisen, engraved by N. Le Mire.

  11. JOUR ET LA NUIT, LE

    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.

  12. JULIE

    Ou, J'ai sauvé ma rose.

    – Condemned as obscene.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    The text first appeared about 1802.

  13. JUSTINE

    Ou. Les Malheurs de la Vertu. By de Sade. 4 volumes.

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Sold by Franç-Marie-Jules Bordeaux.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on June 26, 1836.

    – Bordeaux was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 3,000 francs.

  14. LAMENTAIONS

    Ou, Renaissance sociale. By Antoine Marcellin de Bonnal.

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on March 17, 1842.

    – Marcellin de Bonnal was sentenced to 4 months in prison and fined 200 francs.

  15. LANTERNE MAGIQUE

    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.

  16. LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, LES

    By Laclos.

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on January 22, 1824.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    First published - Amsterdam & Paris: Durand neveu, 1782, 12mo, 4 volumes in 2.

  17. LIBERTIN DE QUALITÉ

    2 volumes. In-18 with 12 engravings.

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

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Vienne on December 12, 1838.

    – Clouzot and both the Porteriés were fined 10 francs.

    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.

    First published in 1783 as "Ma Conversion", written by Mirabeau, probably printed by Jean-Zacharie Malassis. The present title of "Libertin de Qualite" first appeared the following year in Paris (the � Stamboul imprint is false).

  18. MARGOT LA RAVAUDEUSE ET SES AVENTURES GALANTES

    1 vol. In-18

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

    – Condemned for outrages 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.

    First published c.1750.

  19. MA TANTE GENEVIÈVE

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

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  20. MA VIE DE GARÇON

    1 vol. In-18. Lacivious work.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  21. MÉMOIRE

    By Vincent Fournier-Verneuil

    – Condemned for outrages against public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on June 15, 1826

    – Fournier-Verneuil was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined 25 francs.

  22. MÉMOIRE POUR SERVIR A L'HISTOIRE DE FRANCE

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

    – Condemned for outrages 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.

  23. MÉMOIRES DE SATURNIN

    By Chartreux.

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

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on December 29, 1821 and June 28, 1825.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Ascribed to Jacques Charles Gervaise de Latouche. This work made its first appearance in 1741 as "Histoire de Dom B..., Portier des Chartreux". Also known as: "Histoire de Gouberdom" [1786], and an English translation entitled "The Life and Adventures of Father Silas" [1907].

  24. MÉMOIRES DE SUZON

    Sœur du Portier des Chartreux

    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.

    This work first appeared in 1778.

  25. MÉMOIRES HISTORIQUES ET PHILOSOPHIQUES

    Sur la vie et les ouvrages de Diderot. By Naigeon.

    Published by Jean-Louis Brière

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on December 25, 1823.

    – Brière was fined 500 francs.

  26. MÉMOIRES SUR LA COUR DE LOUIS XIV

    Extraits d'une correspondance allemande de Mme Elisabeth-Charlotte de Bavière, duchesse d'Orléans...

    – Condemned for outrages against public and religious morals.

    – Printed by Plassan, sold by Ulfrand Ponthieu, written by Alexandre Schubart

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

    – Ponthieu and Schubart were aquitted. It does not appear that Plassan was sentenced or fined.

  27. MESSALINE FRANÇAISE, LA

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against good, 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.

  28. MEURSIUS FRANÇOIS, LE

    With figures.

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on December 29, 1821

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Sold by Jean-François Leroux.

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Seine on June 6, 1822.

    – Leroux was sentenced to 2 months in prison and fined 500 francs.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on Augsut 9, 1822

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    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.

    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.

    First published under this title in 1782 (Cythère: [Cazin]), this work is the third French translation of "Satyra Sotadica", better known as "L'Académie des Dames"

  29. MILLE ET UNE FAVEURS, LES

    Sold by Claude-Marie Gambart

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered per the Cour royale de Paris on August 25, 1827.

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

  30. MISSIONIDE, LA

    By Cahaigne

    – Condemned for outrages against good and religious morals.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  31. MŒURS DE PARIS PAR ARRONDISSEMENT, LES

    Book of 12 drawings.

    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.

    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 6,000 francs.

  32. MOINES, LES TROIS

    Lacivious work.

    Sold by Pierre Lagier.

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

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

  33. MOMUS REDIVIVUS

    Obscene figures.

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

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

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

  34. MONUMENTS DU CULTE SECRET DES DAMES ROMAINES

    With obscene engravings.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  35. MONUMENS DE LA VIE PRIVÉE DES DOUZE CÉSARS

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

  36. MUSÉE DES FAMILLES

    Collection of lacivious engravings with text

    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.

  37. NOUVEL ENFANT DE LA GOGUETTE

    Collection of songs by Emile Debraux entitled: (1) C'est du nanan (2) La Belle main (3) Lisa (4) Mon Cousin Jacques

    Published by Charles Lecouvey, éditeur.

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on May 29, 1823.

    – Lecouvey was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 15 francs; Debraux to 1 month in prison and fined 46 francs.

  38. NOUVELLE JUSTINE

    1 vol. In-18.

    Sold by Rénier Becker.

    – Condemned for outrages against good, 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.

  39. ŒUVRES DE PARNY

    4 volumes.

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Artigues (hawker).

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals and derision towards religion of the marjority of the French.

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

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

    Printed by Maurice Goin

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on August 24, 1840.

    – Goin was sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined 600 francs.

  40. ŒUVRES BADINES D'ALEXIS PIRON

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Lyon on April 23, 1817.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

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

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.

    Sold by Auguste Jean (bookseller clerk).

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on November 24, 1834

    – Jean was sentenced to 3 months in prison and fined 300 francs.

    Sold by Jean-Baptiste Artigues (hawker).

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

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

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

    – Destruction ordered per the judgement of the tribunal correctionnel de la Vienne on December 12, 1838.

    – Clouzot and both the Porteriés were fined 10 francs.

    This collection of poems by Alexis Piron first appeared in Paris, 1796.

  41. ŒUVRES BADINES DE GRÉCOURT, VOLTAIRE, MIRABEAU, etc.

    Sold by Auguste Jean (bookseller clerk).

    – Condemned for outrages against good morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on November 24, 1834,

    – Jean was sentenced to 3 months in prison and fined 300 francs.

  42. ŒUVRES COMPLÈTES DE BÉRANGER

    Volume 5. Supplement to Chansons érotiques.

    Jean-Baptiste-Constant Chantpie, p�re (printer) and Chantpie, fils (printer).

    – Condemned for outrages against good and public morals.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour d'assises de la Seine on October 24, 1834.

    – The Chantpies were each sentenced to 1 month in prison and fined. 500 francs.

    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.

  43. ORIGNE DES PUCES

    Ou, Les P.....es conquis

    – Obscene and lacivious work.

    – Destruction ordered by the Cour royale de Paris on May 19, 1836.

    – Publisher, seller, etc. not listed.






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