Victorian man's guide to London prostitutes sold at Stafford auction
A Victorian man's pocket guide to London prostitutes, disguised as a wallet, has sold for more than 13 times its estimate.
The Man of Pleasure's Illustrated Pocket-Book for 1850: A Complete and Gentlemanly Night Guide in London was valued at £300.
But the guide, which includes 50 sketches and descriptions of women, went under the hammer for £4,000 to a private UK buyer.
The 169-year-old book, sold by Hansons Auctioneers at Bishton Hall, depicts individual prostitutes using coded language – referring to equestrian and seafaring references.
Miss Murray, of Foley Place in Oxford Street, is described as a "little frigate" fit for a "king to board".
Another page describes Miss A Parks, on Beaufort Place on New Road, whose house is known by the "Venetian blinds usually drawn down".
Miss Alice Grey is described as being "very handsome" – with detail given to the "rites of the love-inspiring queen".
Another section of the book, entitled The Health of The Man of Pleasure, includes prescriptions – and descriptions – of sexually transmitted diseases.
A page on "gonorrhoea or clap" advises drinking a pint of water containing linseed and sugar or lemon. It advocates barley water or thin gruel to off-set the systems.
Book expert Jim Spencer said: "It’s an amazing result that’s exceeded expectations. Antiquarian books of this nature do seem to do very well. Early erotic publications are sought after by collectors, both nationally and internationally.
"Books such as this were published and sold in secret at a time when they were regarded as obscene. The fact that this latest find was disguised as a wallet speaks volumes about its content."
The guide was sold on December 12 in Hansons' Fine Art and Library auction.
