17th Century Porn on the Block
“The world’s first known piece of printed pornography, described as the ‘quintessence of debauchery,’ is expected to reach up to £35,000 ($65,040) when it is auctioned next month. ‘Sodom,’ penned in the mid-1670s, has been attributed to John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester and is described by auction house Sotheby’s as a ‘closet drama rather than for the stage’ with pornography ‘in almost every line.’ ‘We believe this is the first printed pornography in English literature, a unique copy of the quintessence of debauchery,’ said Peter Beal, Sotheby’s book specialist. ‘It is one of the most notorious publications in literature and makes most pornography written 300 years later seem tame.’ The book centers on the decision made by a lustful King to ’set the nation free’ by allowing ‘buggary’ to be ‘used thro’ all the land’ and then details the dire consequences.” —CNN (US)
(Thanks to alanr for the link.)
No doubt it is an expression of modern mores — or lack of them — that this early work of printed pornography is being auctioned off as though it were a Gutenberg Bible. And for that matter, given all the dirty parts of the Old Testament, it’s hard not to think that the Gutenberg Bible might well take precedence over this book for title of “first work of printed pornography.” The Old Testament features rape, incest, homosexuality, adultery, prostitution, masturbation, and the occasional mention of bestiality. How much more sex does a book need to be considered pornographic?
Hopefully whoever purchases the second Earl of Rochester’s tome will consider making it available to the public somehow. Since eleven states here in America recently forbade same-sex marriage, it might well be inspiring to read about a free nation where “buggary” can be “used thro’ all the land…”
UPDATE: 17 Dec 2004. “The world’s first known piece of printed pornography, described as the ‘quintessence of debauchery,’ has been sold for 45,600 pounds ($89,000), well above expectations, Sotheby’s auction house said Thursday.” (Thanks alanr!)
From what I’ve read of Sodomy it ultimately copsout and ends the story on a moral note that buggery destroyed civilization.
However some of the lines are just totally priceless. And it’s not pornography so much as pornographic.
My Pintle [penis] only shall my scepter be;
My laws shall act more pleasure than command
And with my Prick, I’ll govern all the land.
More of the text is available at http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/wilmot.htm
PRICKET
I am a stranger to these unknown parts
And never vers’d in Loves obliging arts:
Pray, guide me, I was ne’er this way before.
It is, yes, selling well.
And M. Depp shall make for us a movie soon.
That might have worked better had I been able to add:
http://www.olympiapress.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=103
First printed porn–Not.
Pietro Aretino (1492 - 1556), originator of European porn
http://www.jahsonic.com/PietroAretino.html
other earlier instances could be adduced, in other literature, including Kama Sutra of Vatsayayana –
This is the earliest and best known of the Indian sex manuals. It has been variously dated from 300 B.C. to 400 A.D. & The Ananga Ranga
The various Venuses (of Willendorf etc) were early examples of pornography, graphic writing sso to speak, press them in the mud, let the mud dry….
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