Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221
Rough Trade
Part 9 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.
Did I mention that there are illustrations throughout each book? Well, yes, there are, by the same artist as the cover art. Something for every chapter - so a daunting task for the illustrator, for sure.
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. I came up short once this week. Also please note: the sticker price, beginning with RT-505, goes from $2.95 to $3.95.
--- ---
Brutal Seaman
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-497
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Big Tooled Mechanic
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-498
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Tattoo Master
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-499
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
House of Sadism
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-500
Back Cover
--- ---
Big Rig Rapist
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-501
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Sex Toy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-502
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Dominant Drill Sergeant
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-503
--- ---
Convict Jungle
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1981
RT-504
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Hardhat Hellers
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1982
RT-505
--- ----
Truck Stop Torment
Author: Mohammad Raji
Rough Trade
1982
RT-506
Back Cover
--- ---
The Skipper’s Slaves
Author: Lon Hardon
Rough Trade
1982
RT-507
(Cover not found.)
--- ---
Olympic Stud Farm
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1982
RT-508
And that's all for now.
Next up: twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
Drill Instructor - Captain Jack
No comments:
Post a Comment