What I wouldn’t give to see this auction (and lemme tell ya how weird it is to write *those* words). Apparently a huge collection of erotic art is going under the hammer at Christie’s in Paris next week, including an original manuscript of Story of O, over 100 autographed notes from the Marquis de Sade in his revisions of Justine, an edition of Fanny Hill once owned by Graham Greene, surrealist art and much more. It’s interesting to note the writer’s demonstrations of distaste in this article about the sale and collection, even going so far as to present it as “wife says it’s got to go!” while later in the article reveals that the family is actually keeping certain gems for themselves, such as an original manuscript of de Sade’s 120 Days of Sodom. Methinks the lady doth protest too much… In fact, the article goes on to say about the original collector, “On first meeting with Monique, the woman who became his wife, he gave her a copy of A History of 18th-Century Courtesans.” But than again, this is written by a Brit who in his own words sees the British representation of erotica (as seen in the collection) as “six of the best, all slap and no tickle”. Hmm, that actually sounds fun… Regardless, Erotic sale of the century (wife says it’s got to go) is a fasinating read, with a fun ending.

Let’s just hope that whoever buys this collection doesn’t lock it away in a private case somewhere. That would be the arts and culture equivalent of all slap and no tickle.