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Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221
Rough Trade
Part 8 of 19
Today, we take another look at the Rough Trade imprint.
Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Rough Trade imprint published 224 titles, from 1974-1990. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City.
The imprint's numbering system begins with RT-401, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.
All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Rough Trade logo in the upper left of the book's cover. The books cover design consists of an all-caps (typically) title in a banner of orange or baby blue near the top. A frame is created by two white stripes descending from the top banner to a thin banner (orange or baby blue) containing the word 'Illustrated' - for the books are, with drawings throughout. At the center of the cover there is an explicit illustration - some ink/pencil, some woodcut/etching - all by various popular gay artists of the time, including Craig Esposito, Adam, Michael, etc.
Oddly, the early books in the series do not have a publisher's page. Price point for the books began at 2.25 and increased (by various increments) to $3.95. Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-45.
The back covers sometimes feature a synopsis of the book to entice readers or advertisement for one of Star Distributors' other imprints. Ads also appear at the front or back of the book - offering books, videos, and sex toys.
Here are the next dozen titles. This week, I came up short three times. Also note that they have done away with author's names (all of which were pseudonyms anyway) and, starting with RT-485, the books are now all credited to 'anonymous'.
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Jockstrap
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-485
(Cover not found.)
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Booted Master
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-486
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Chicken Hawk
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-487
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.
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Stable Boy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-488
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.
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Hard Leather
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-489
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Cowpoke
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-490
(Cover not found.)
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Meat Rack
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-491
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Marine Master
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-492
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Leather Cycle Club
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1980
RT-493
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Coach’s Jocks
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-494
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Prison Dick
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-495
(Cover not found.)
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Hard Hat Dude
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-496
Back Cover
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook from Hommi Publishing.
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And that's all for now.
Next up: twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
Stable Boy - Then Jerico
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