User:Ficaia/Editions of Fanny Hill

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

Editions

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# 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.
1 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.[1] It figures among the books of which the circulation was forbidden in Belgium.[2][1]
2 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.[1]
3 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.[3]
4 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."[4][3]
5 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.[5] There are no plates in either copy.[6]
6 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.[6] In the late 19th century, F. Hankey, of Paris, possessed a fine copy of this edition.[6]
7 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.[6]
8 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.[6]
9 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."[7]
10 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.[8]
11 This edition was reprinted without date, the same plates, price three guineas.[8]
12 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".[9]
13 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.
14 See above.
15 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. This is a castrated edition, and is probably a reprint of the work noticed in the Monthly Review."[9]
16 Memoirs of the Life of Fanny Hill, or the career of a Woman of Pleasure. Illustrated with Coloured Plates. London:—Printed for the Booksellers 8vo.; size of letter-press 4¼ by 2¼ inches; two double lines on title-page; 2 vols. in one; paging runs through both vols.; 120 pages in all; a portrait of Fanny Hill as frontispiece, and 7 lithographs, 8 illustrations in all, coloured, not indecent. Ashbee calls the 7 lithographs "badly done". He further notes: "This is another castrated edition, which, however, differs somewhat from that noted immediately above; it is worthless."[10]
17 The above edition was again issued, identical in every respect, but without the portrait, and with a fresh set of woodcuts, eight in number. Ashbee calls the woodcuts "badly done" and "free, but not obscene."[10]
18 Original Edition. Memoirs of the Life of Miss Fanny Hill. Illustrated with beautifully Coloured Plates. Price One Guinea. Title on outer board in which it is bound; a half-title, but no title-page; 8vo.; no signatures; size of paper 6½ by 4, of letter-press 4⅝ by 2½ inches; 2 vols. in one; paging runs through; pp. 144 in all; 8 woodcuts, coloured, not indecent. Ashbee calls the woodcuts "wretched", and further notes: "This is the same version, with slight alterations, as No. 16; it is of no value."[10]
19 The Singular Life and Adventures of Miss Fanny Hill, A Fair Cyprian, Many Years Resident in Russell Street, Covent Garden, Originally Written by JOHN CLELAND Esquire. First Published by R. GRIFFITH, at the Dunciad, in St. Paul's Church Yard. London, Re-Printed by Turner, 23 Russell Court, Drury Lane. Engraved title, with a vignette representing Mr. H. surprising Fanny with her footman Will. This edition, of which Ashbee had seen the title-page only, is 12mo. size, and was published by W. DUGDALE, about 1830; it was sold openly, and is consequently a castrated version; there were probably plates, not obscene.[11] Ashbee calls the vignette "well-drawn" and "free but not obscene".[11]
20 Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure written by herself London. There is a lithographed frontispiece with: The Life and Adventures of Fanny Hill, a Fair Cyprian by JOHN CLELAND.

12mo.; 2 vols.; paging runs through both vols.; pp. 284; lithographed plates; published in New York, about 1845.

Translations

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Justice has been rendered abroad to the merits of Cleland's novel by the numerous translations through which it has passed.[11] By the 1880s it could be read, in a more or less curtailed form, in most of the leading languages of Europe, although Ashbee was not aware that it had then been done into Spanish.[11]

French

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The following list contains the French renderings, which are the most numerous; none of those, however, is complete, and none contains the passage above quoted.[12]

# Title page Details Notes
1 La Fille de Joye. Ouvrage quintessencié de l'Anglois. A. LAMPASQUE, 1751. 8vo.; size of paper 6⅝ by 4, of letter-press 5 by 2⅝ inches; pp. 172 ex title; monogram on the title-page, which is printed in red and black; no plates. This version is much curtailed. It begins with: "Tu veux ma chere Amie, que je retrace à tes Yeux les égaremens de ma prémiere jeunesse," &c., and ends thus: "Adieu, ma chére, ce qui [sic] j'exige de ton amitié, c'est de ne point divulguer mes égaremens & de me croire, &c. Fin." According to Ashbee, this is no doubt, as Gay indicates, the first French edition.[13] He adds that the translator's name is LAMBERT, son of a Paris banker.[14]
2 This rendering was reprinted, about 1860, by FISCHABER of Stuttgart, without date, wording of title-page the same, except that the impress was changed into Cologne, Chez PIERRE MARTEAU; 12mo.; size of paper 5⅛ by 3¼, of letter-press 4¹⁄₁₆ by 2¼ inches; pp. 108; on title-page are a fancy line and a geometrical figure; no plates. This translation, divided into two parts, or volumes, is the same as in the following Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.[13]
3 Nouvelle Traduction de Woman of Pleasur [sic], ou Fille de Joie. Par M. CLELAND, Contenant les Mémoires de Mademoiselle FANNY, écrits par elle-même. Avec Figures. Premiere Partie. A Londres, Chez G. Fenton, dans le Strand. M.DCC.LXXVI. 12mo.; size of letter-press 3⅞ by 2 inches; pp. 119 and 132 in all; two single lines, one double line, and a small fleuron on title-page; a bastard-title with the first six words of the title-page; and a half-title: Mémoires de Miss Fanny, écrits par elle-même; 15 engravings, unsigned, of which one only, that which serves as frontispiece, has an inscription, and refers to part 1, p. 55. Ashbee says this was the most desirable of all the old French editions.[15] It was published at Paris by CAZIN. No mention is however made of it in Cazin sa Vie et ses Éditions. H. COHEN describes it correctly, and adds: "Les figures de cette édition très-rare comptent au nombre des plus belles de BOREL et d'ELUIN."[16] EDOUARD TRICOTEL has also noted this edition.[17]
4 La Fille de Joie, Par M. CLELAND, Contenant les Mémoires de Mademoiselle Fanny, écrits par elle-même. Avec Figures. Tome Premier. A Londres. M.DCC.LXXVI. 12mo. (counts 6); size of letter-press 4 by 2¼ inches; 2 vols.; pp. III and 128; two single and one double line on title-page; 15 engravings similar to those in the Cazin edition, they do not correspond with the English text, but the French text has been made to suit them. The half-title reads Mémoires de Miss Fanny, &c.[18]
5 Title-page, and size as above; pp. 107 and 116; eight engravings copied from above.[18]
6 As No. 5, except that on title-page "Mademoiselle" is contracted into "Mlle", and the title does not head the pages as in Nos. 4 and 5.[18]
7 Title-page as No. 4; pp. 107 and 115; two (?) engravings (one to each vol.), entirely different from those above mentioned.[18]
8 Nouvelle Traduction de La Fille de Joye. Par Mr. CLELAND, Contenant Les Mémoires de Mlle. Fanny, écrite [sic] par elle-même. Avec Figures. Premiere Partie. Londres, M.DCC.LXXVI. 12mo.; size of letter-press 4¼ by 2¼ inches; pp. 101 and 116; the title-page is enframed, and has three fancy lines and a small fleuron; a frontispiece and three engravings roughly done, but curious, quite different from those above noticed; they all belong to the first part, and are detailed in the Avis au Relieur on last page.[19]
9 La Fille de Joie, ou Mémoires de Mademoiselle Fanny, Ecrits par elle-même. Nouvelle Edition. Avec Figures. Tome Premier. A Londres. 1790. 12mo. (counts 6); size of letter-press 3¾ by 2 inches; pp. 143 and 142 ex titles; one graduated and one plain line on title page; engravings as in No. 4, of which there appear to be fifteen only, although the last is numbered 16; the volumes are differently divided, the second beginning at "Ayant déjà passé," &c., instead of at "Tandis que j'étois," &c., as in Nos. 4 to 8.[20]
10 Nouvelle Traduction de Woman of Pleasur [sic], ou Fille de Joye de M. CLELAND Contenant Les Memoires de Mlle. Fanny écrits par Elle-meme Avec xv Planches en taille douce Partie I. Londres Chez G. FENTON dans le Strand MDCCLXX. 8vo.; size of paper 8⅝ by 5¼, of letter-press 6¼ by 3¼ inches; 2 parts; pp. 170 ex titles, the paging continued through both parts; the title-pages are engraved and surrounded with a fancy border, at the bottom of which, under the frame, is a 2; they are alike with exception of I or II to indicate the respective part, under which is a double line; to each part there is a frontispiece (both identical in every respect) representing a naked woman standing in the middle of an apartment before a pedestal, out of which protrudes a phallus; the design is enframed, outside the frame there is (at the top) I, and (at the bottom) the inscription Voeux de Chasteté à la Moderne; the engravings are in reality only 13 in number, the title and frontispiece of the first part being counted as two, they are all numbered, some at the top, some at the bottom, and some in the design; they are not enframed, they are specified in the Avis au Relieur which concludes the second part; to each part there is a second half-title: Mémoires de Miss. Fanny, écrits par elle-méme., but there is neither printed nor bastard title. Ashbee calls the engravings "weak in design and poor in execution".[21]
11 La Fille de Joie, ou Mémoires de Miss Fanny, Écrits par Elle-Même. A Paris, Chez Madame GOURDAN. M.DCCC.LXXXVI.
12
13

German

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It is known in Germany as Das Frauenzimmer von Bergnügen, and occupies the first volume of the Priapische Romane.[22] The German translation is complete, and contains the suppressed passage.[a]

Italian

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There are two Italian renderings, one of which is said to be by Count Carlo Gozzi. Both have passed through several editions.[22] The following is one:

La Meretrice Inglese o Avventure di Fanny Will Parigi 1861.

8vo.; size of letter-press 5 by 2¾ inches; pp. 95; 4 woodcuts.[b] This version is translated from the French, and abbreviated even from that.[22]

Portuguese

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Finally, there is a Portuguese translation:

O Vôo da Innocencía ao auge Prostituição, ou Memorias de Miss Fanny, escriptos por ella mesma, 2 tomos em 1 volume, com 7 estampas.[c]

x

x

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

Notes

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  1. ^ Ashbee suspects therefore that herr Hayn is in error when he says that it is a translation from the French. He has certainly drawn on his own imagination for the English title given by him at p. 115 of Bibliotheca Germanorum erotica, as "The Girl of Pleasure".[22]
  2. ^ Ashbee calls the 4 woodcuts "bad".[22]
  3. ^ Ashbee had not seen this volume, but extracted the title from a catalogue at the end of O Cherubim, noticed at p. 160 of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ashbee 1885, p. 65.
  2. ^ Catalogue des Livres Defendus, p. 55.
  3. ^ a b Ashbee 1885, p. 66.
  4. ^ Catalogue, MS.
  5. ^ Ashbee 1885, pp. 66–7.
  6. ^ a b c d e Ashbee 1885, p. 67.
  7. ^ Ashbee 1885, pp. 67–8.
  8. ^ a b Ashbee 1885, p. 68.
  9. ^ a b Ashbee 1885, p. 69.
  10. ^ a b c Ashbee 1885, p. 70.
  11. ^ a b c d Ashbee 1885, p. 71.
  12. ^ Ashbee 1885, pp. 71–2.
  13. ^ a b Ashbee 1885, p. 72.
  14. ^ Bibliographie, vol. 5, p. 50. In the Catalogue des Livres Defendus, p. 29, already referred to, a copy is noted with date 1709, evidently in error.
  15. ^ Ashbee 1885, p. 73.
  16. ^ Guide de l'Amateur, 1876, col. 78.
  17. ^ Bibliographie érotique, MS.
  18. ^ a b c d Ashbee 1885, p. 74.
  19. ^ Ashbee 1885, pp. 74–5.
  20. ^ Ashbee 1885, p. 75.
  21. ^ Ashbee 1885, p. 76.
  22. ^ a b c d e Ashbee 1885, p. 82.

Sources

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  • 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.


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