Tart Cards: London's Illicit Advertising Art

New York: Mark Batty Publisher, 2005. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine in Fine Archival Box. Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of the best explorations of London sex work adverts. Drawn from Caroline Archer's collection of tart cards and her interviews with printers, designers, artists, sex workers, etc. Tart cards emerged in the 1960s and became prevalent in the United Kingdom throughout the 1980s and beyond. The 1990s and the evolving Russian takeover of the sex trade in London saw a marked change, from generally offset printed and/or hand written to glossy and 'generalized' cards. Cell phones and the loss of phone booths has radically shrunk their visibility.
This is one of a specially bound limited edition, originally of 60 copies but in fact only approximately 30 were ever bound. 'Corset bound' in pink cloth and black lace and containing two bound in pockets with approximately 35 original tart cards. Tight, bright, and unmarred. 'Corset bound' with pink cloth spine, black cloth boards with lace and black ribbon ties (resulting in two bound in bookmarks); two enclosed pockets in rear board hold loose tart cards; black archival box with in blind lettering. 8vo. 118pp. Illus. (color plates).