133

Various artists

[Lesbian-Themed Pulp Fiction & Romances.] 1960s-1980s.

A Large Group. More than 100 1960s-1980s examples of paperback pulp novels featuring colorful illustrated covers and imaginative titles all concerned with the serious, comic and explicit aspects of woman-on-woman, bi-sexual, and other non-hetero-normative alternative sexual entanglements and the drama and glory that comes along with such adventures; some first editions; almost all in good or very good condition printed by a variety of publishers.

  • Provenance: Notably, this lot includes science fantasy novelist Marion Zimmer Bradley's (1930-1999) I Am a Lesbian, published under the nom de plume, Lee Chapman, in 1962. Best known for her Arthurian-themed fantasy, The Mists of Avalon, Bradley's reputation suffered posthumously as she was accused of child sexual abuse.

    "Who are these 'girls'? Gazing at the pulp art covers of the lesbian fiction published half a century ago is like reconnecting with old acquaintances. [...] With only small adjustments, and sometimes none at all, the young women I was looking at could easily have walked off those pulp covers and onto the pages of Harper's Bazaar to sell the 'New Look.' [...] I often felt rather sorry for the young woman looking up at the reader. She was clearly intended to apepal to the large male readership, and not to the lesbian constituency that we women writers, at least, thought we were reaching out to." (Quoted from Ann Bannon's Foreword to Jaye Zimet's Strange Sisters: The Art of Lesbian Pulp Fiction, 1949-1969.)
  • Condition:
    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

August 21, 2025 10:30 AM EDT
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0-100,000:
25.0%
$100,001-1,000,000:
20.0%
$1,000,001+:
12.0%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000