Acquired Tastes XLIII: Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221 - Rough Trade, Part 12 of 19

Acquired Tastes XLIII: 

Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221

Rough Trade

Part 12 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. This week, I came up short just once. 

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Oil Rig Ramrod

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-533

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Marathon Meat

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-534

 

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 Wet Leather

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-535

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Stud Father

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-536

(Cover not found.)

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 Muscle Men

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-537 

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Grease Monkey

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-538

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 Highway Cruisers

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1982 

RT-539

According to Hommi Publishing's Big Ass List, this title was republished as Mean Trucker (coupled with Beach Studs) by the Male Double Book imprint as MDB23 that same year.

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.

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 Chicken Farm

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1983 

RT-540

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 Leather Discipline

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1984 

RT-541

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 Muscle Beach Brutes

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1984 

RT-542

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 Black Boy’s Training

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1984 

RT-543

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 Prison Sex Riot

 Author: Anonymous 

Rough Trade

 1984 

RT-544

 

Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at 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.

Muscle Bustle - Donna Loren & Dick Dale

from the motion picture Muscle Beach Party

(1964)