''The Library Illustrative of Social Progress'' was a series of

pornographic Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults,

books published by

John Camden Hotten John Camden Hotten (12 September 1832, Clerkenwell – 14 June 1873, Hampstead) was an English bibliophile and publisher. He is best known for his clandestine publishing of numerous erotic and pornographic titles. Life Hotten was born John Will ...

around 1872 (falsely dated 1777). They were mainly reprints of eighteenth-century pornographic works on

flagellation Flagellation (Latin , 'whip'), flogging or whipping is the act of beating the human body with special implements such as whips, rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails, the sjambok, the knout, etc. Typically, flogging has been imposed on ...

. Hotten claimed to have found them in the library of

Henry Thomas Buckle Henry Thomas Buckle (24 November 1821 – 29 May 1862) was an English historian, the author of an unfinished ''History of Civilization'', and a strong amateur chess player. He is sometimes called "the Father of Scientific History". Early life ...

(1821–1862) but

Henry Spencer Ashbee Henry Spencer Ashbee (21 April 1834 – 29 July 1900)(Walter) was a book collector, writer, and bibliographer. He is notable for his massive, clandestine three-volume bibliography of erotic literature published under the pseudonym of Pisanus Frax ...

counterclaimed that they were in fact from his collection.Ashbee (1877) pp. 240-241

Titles

Ashbee lists: * Heinrich Meibom, ''De Flagorum Usu in re Medica et Venera'' (''A Treatise on the Use of Flogging in Venereal Affairs'', 1638) * ''

Exhibition of Female Flagellants ''Exhibition of Female Flagellants'' is an 1830 pornographic novel published by George Cannon in London and attributed, probably falsely, to Theresa Berkley. The principal activity described is flagellation, mainly of women by women, described ...

'': describing flagellation, mainly of women by women, described in a theatrical, fetishistic style * ''

Fashionable Lectures ''Fashionable Lectures: Composed and Delivered with Birch Discipline'' was a pornographic book originally published in the 18th century and republished by John Camden Hotten as volume 7 of his series ''The Library Illustrative of Social Progress' ...

'': on the theme of flagellation by dominant women in positions of authority * ''Female Flagellants'' (1777) (around 1750) * ''

Lady Bumtickler's Revels ''Lady Bumtickler's Revels'' is a pornographic book written as a spoof libretto for a comic opera on the theme of flagellation. It was written and published by John Camden Hotten in 1872 in his series ''The Library Illustrative of Social Progress'' ...

'': comic opera on the joys of flagellation * ''Madame Birchini's Dance'': a long poem in which the heroine cures a man of impotence by flagellation * ''The Sublime of Flagellation'' Henderson adds:Henderson (2008) p.220 * '' The Rodiad''

References

* * British pornography Pornographic books 1870s books {{sex-book-stub