THE "BLUE BOOK" by Semper Idem, aka Charles Heartman ~ Limited Edition of 1500 Copies, 1936 ~ New Orleans Prostitution, Storyville
Publisher: Privately Printed, New Orleans (1936)
"A Bibliographical Attempt to describe the Guide Books to the houses
of ill fame in New Orleans as they were published there. Together with
some pertinent and illuminating remarks pertaining to the Establishments
and Courtesans as well as to Harlotry in general in New Orleans."
Order of the Garter: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Shame on Him Who
Thinks Evil of It)
Exceedingly rare and scarce limited edition copy of The "Blue Book" by Charles Heartman, aka Semper Idem, from 1936 in excellent condition. The boards and binding are solid and tight with minimal shelf-wear. The pages are crisp and clean save for ex-libris stamp from the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and natural tanning and signature on the first blank page. Natural tanning to the last blank page, and light foxing present on top border of pages 10 and 11. Please see pictures. An extremely scarce, privately printed limited edition of 1500 copies detailing New Orleans' prostitution located in Storyville, and the use of "Blue Books" for prostitutes to advertise during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Please see below for more information on the Storyville, New Orleans prostitution and the Blue Books of the late 19th and early 20th centuries!
"Storyville" Prostitution in New Orleans, Louisiana: Late 19th and early 20th Centuries
"Storyville" a district set up to limit prostitution to one area of town where authorities could monitor and regulate the
practice. In the late 1890s, the New Orleans city government studied the
legalized red light districts of northern German and Dutch
ports and set up Storyville based on such models. Between 1895 and
1915, "blue books" were published in Storyville. These books were guides
to prostitution for visitors to the district's services; they included
house descriptions, prices, particular services, and the "stock" each
house offered. The Storyville blue-books were inscribed with the motto:
"Order of the Garter: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense (Shame on Him Who
Thinks Evil of It)". It took some time for Storyville to gain
recognition, but by 1900, Storyville was on its way to becoming New
Orleans's largest revenue center.
Establishments in Storyville ranged from cheap "cribs" to more expensive houses, up to a row of elegant mansions along Basin Street
for well-heeled customers. New Orleans' cribs were 50-cent joints,
whereas the more expensive establishments could cost up to $10. Black
and white brothels coexisted in Storyville; but black men were barred
from legally purchasing services in either black or white brothels.
Following the establishment of these brothels, restaurants and saloons began to open in Storyville, bringing in additional tourists.
