Acquired Tastes XLIII:
Gay Pulp Fiction, Part 221
Rough Trade
Part 18 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.
And, starting with RT-605, the distinctive banner is now blue. The reason? These are re-issues of titles they have previously published with all-new artwork.
Here are the next ten titles. Came up short just once this week.
--- ---
Stud Brute
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1987
RT-605
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Leather Cruiser
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1987
RT-606
--- ---
Boy-Bait
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1987
RT-607
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Hard Hot and Hung
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1987
RT-608
--- ---
Cult of Leather
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1988
RT-609
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Hard Hat Night
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1988
RT-610
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Rough Riders
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1988
RT-611
--- ---
Trucker’s Load
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1988
RT-62
(Cover not found.)
--- ---
Wrangler Brutes
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1988
RT-613
--- ---
Men of Steel
Rough Trade
Author: Anonymous
1988
RT-614
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
And that's all for now.
Next up: the final ten tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.
Until then...
Thanks for reading.
Man Of Steel - Hans Zimmer
No comments:
Post a Comment