Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221
Rough Trade
Part 19 of 19
Today, we take a final 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.
Apparently, they tried to create a magazine with the same branding and illustrations as the book series.
I don't know much about it. Nor have I ever seen one or found one for sale.
If you have any further information or the covers of other issues, please contact me. I would love to learn more.
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.
And, starting with RT-605, the distinctive banner is now blue. The reason? Many of these are re-issues of titles they have previously published with all-new artwork.
Here are the next ten titles. We end on a good note. This week, I found something for all ten.
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Body Builder’s Cult
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1988
RT-615
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Midnight Plowboy
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1988
RT-616
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Hard Hold
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1989
RT-617
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Prisoner of St. Brutus
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1989
RT-618
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Rory's Slaveboys
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1989
RT-619
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Leather and Rope
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1989
RT-620
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Men of the Twisted Cross
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1990
RT-621
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Marooned Men
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1990
RT-622
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Captives of Sodom
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1990
RT-623
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Chained Chicken
Author: Anonymous
Rough Trade
1990
RT-624
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Oh, and one last thing...
I found this:
Apparently, they tried to create a magazine with the same branding and illustrations as the book series.
I don't know much about it. Nor have I ever seen one or found one for sale.
If you have any further information or the covers of other issues, please contact me. I would love to learn more.
--- ---
And that's all for now.
Up next: more tantalizing cover art from another vintage gay pulp fiction imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading!
Hard To Hold - RAC feat. Tegan and Sara
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