User:Ficaia/Editions of Fanny Hill

This is a list of editions of John Cleland's classic erotic novel Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, often called Fanny Hill.

Title page	Details	Notes
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure from the Original Corrected Edition with a Set of Elegant Engravings.	8vo.; without place or date ; 2 vols.; pp. 152 and 167.	This early, complete edition contains an episode which is not to be found in the editions of 1749 or 1784. The passage occurs in the latter part of the work, and contains the details of a scene which Fanny witnessed on her trip to Hampton Court. Its exact place in the volume is between two paragraphs—the first ending with the words: "they now proceeded to such lengths as soon satisfied me what they were."—the latter beginning: "The criminal scene they acted I had the patience to see to the end," &c.
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure London Printed for G. FENTON in the Strand MDCCXLIX.	Large 12mo.; 2 vols.; pp. 228 including title-page, and 250; a small fleuron on the title-page; no bastard title; large type; 12 mezzotinto engravings.	This edition dates one year earlier than that given by Lowndes as the original, but Ashbee is doubtful whether it is really the first issue of the work. It figures among the books of which the circulation was forbidden in Belgium.
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. London: Printed in the Year M. DCCC. LXXVII.	12mo. (counts 6); size of letter-press 4⅜ by 2¼ inches; two lines on title-page between the words "Pleasure" and "London"; the half-title reads Memoirs of a ***** of ********; 2 vols.; paging runs through; pp. 307 including title-page; vol. 1. ends at p. 146.	It is unclear whether this edition was illustrated; there were no plates in the copy examined by Ashbee.
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure London Printed for G. FENTON in the Strand M.DCC.LXXXI.	12mo.; 2 vols.; pp. 172 and 187.	No plates in the copy examined by Ashbee.
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. London Printed for G. FENTON in the Strand 1784.	12mo; 2 vols.; pp. 154 and 168; 12(?) engravings.	A. S. L. Bérard possessed a copy of this edition, which he imagined to be the original; he remarks: "Les nombreuses figures qui accompagnent ce livre sont aussi mauvaises sous le rapport du dessin que sous celui de la gravure. Cette édition est d'une extrême rareté, même en Angleterre."
Memoirs of F****** H***. Vol. I. London: Printed for G. FENTON, in the Strand, M.DCC.LXXXIV.	12mo. (counts 6); size of paper 7¼ by 4¼, of letter-press 5⅜ by 3⅛ inches; 2 vols.; pp. 132 and 144 ex titles; on title-page a figure between two double lines; the half-title reads Memoirs of F**** H***.	Ashbee had a copy of this same edition with a title-page bearing date MDCCLXXIX, and with four stars instead of six after the letter "F"; as on the half-title of the 1784 edition there are only four stars, whereas there are six in the title-page, Ashbee suspects this title-page to be spurious. There are no plates in either copy.
Memoirs of ********** ** ************ Vol I. London: Printed for G. FENTON in the Strand	12mo.; 2 vols.; pp. 228 and 252 in all; 11 mezzotinto engravings, coloured, of which six are in the first, and five in the second volume;	Although without date, this is evidently of the 18th century. In the late 19th century, F. Hankey, of Paris, possessed a fine copy of this edition.
	There is an edition of 1829, in 12mo., 2 vols., pp. 159 and 176, with 18 plates, but Ashbee was uncertain of the wording of the title.
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure: Written by Herself Embellished with Numerous Copper Plate Engravings Vol. I. London: Printed for the Proprietors. 1831	12mo.; size of letter-press 3¾ by 2½ inches; 2 vols.; pp. 131 and 144; two lines on the printed title-pages; in addition to the engravings, there are two obscene, emblematical, engraved title-pages; type small and indistinct. The second volume concludes with: "Madam, Yours, &c. * * Finis."	This edition included engravings, of the number of which Ashbee was not certain.
	Ashbee had access to another copy of this edition, or what would at first sight appear to be the same. It has, however, the following curious variation: At the end of the second volume "Yours &c." are omitted, and inverted initials are added, thus: "Madam,* * ‾‾‾H ‾‾‾Ⅎ Finis."
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure or the Life of Miss Fanny Hill In two Volumes From the Original Quarto Edition of the Author JOHN CLELAND Esq. Illustrated with Twenty-five Original Engravings. London Printed by John Jones, Whitefriars 1832 Price Three Guineas.	Large 12mo.; pp. 120 and 135; published by W. DUGDALE; the twenty-five engravings are coloured, well done, and consist of 12 small inserted in the text, and 13 large, including an engraved title-page, with: Memoirs of Miss Fanny Hill a Woman of Pleasure.
	This edition was reprinted without date, the same plates, price three guineas.
The Life and Adventures of Fanny Hill, A Fair Cyprian, By John Cleland, Esq.	A lithographed and coloured title-page, with obscene subjects, without place or date; no printed title-page; the half-title reads: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure; or, the Life of Fanny Hill; 8vo.; size of paper 6¾ by 4⅛; of letterpress 5⅝ by 3¼ inches; 2 vols. in one; the paging runs through, but is irregular, that of the first volume terminates at page 80, while that of vol. II begins with p. 97, and concludes with p. 173; 20 coloured lithographs; published by W. DUGDALE, about 1850.	Ashbee calls the 20 coloured lithographs "obscene and badly done".
	Ashbee had before him two distinct reprints of this edition; the title-pages are similar, except that "Esq." is omitted, and on the more modern issue the "J" in the word "John" is turned; the lithographs are also turned; the paging, with its irregularity, is the same in all three issues.
	See above.
Memoirs of the Life of the Celebrated Miss Fanny Hill, Detailing, in glowing language, her Adventures as a Courtezan and Kept-Mistress; her strange vicissitudes and happy end. Illustrated by numerous engravings. Reprinted from the original Quarto Edition of JOHN CLELAND. "If I have painted vice in its gayest colours, if I have decked it with flowers, it has been solely in order to make the worthier, the solemner sacrifice of it, to virtue." London: Printed by H. SMITH, 37, Holywell Street, Strand. 1841.	12mo (counts 6); size of letter-press 4⅝ by 2½ inches; pp. 207, with 4 of title and contents; 8 coloured engravings, free but not obscene; 5 lines on title-page; divided into 11 letters, with headings; W. DUGDALE was the publisher.	According to Ashbee, "This is a castrated edition, and is probably a reprint of the work noticed in the Monthly Review."

https://archive.org/details/indexlibrorumpro03ashb/page/68/mode/2up

Sources

• Catalogue des Livres Defendus par la Commission Impériale Et Royale. Brussels. 1786. p. 55.

Attribution:

• Ashbee, Henry Spencer [Pisanus Fraxi] (1885). Catena Librorum Tacendorum. Notes on Curious and Uncommon Books. London: privately printed. pp. 60–91, 400–1. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

Category:Lists of books