108 198
169
●
(EROTICA—POP
PHOTOGRAPHICA)
A montage of erotic images of nude women
posing provocatively printed on yellow fabric
with a floral border. With 9 images, overall
size 16x17 inches (40.6x43.2 cm.). Circa 1950s
[300/450]
168
●
(EROTICA—TRANSVESTITES AND CROSS DRESSERS)
A rare group of 146 photographs of transvestites, cross dressers, and female impersonators, all
published by Irving Klaw Studios. Silver prints, sizes ranging from 4
1
/
8
x2
1
/
4
to 4
1
/
2
x3
1
/
2
inches
(10.5x5.7 to 11.4x8.9 cm.), most with the FI number in the print; divided by subject into small
glassine sleeves. Circa 1950s
[2,500/3,500]
WITH
—
One of Irving Klaw’s Bulletin catalogues headlining Female Impersonators, and also including
numerous examples of other images clients might purchase, such as “Bondage Poses!,” “Women of History
Dominating Males,” and “Hollywood Fighting Girl Photos.” 4to, 2 photo-pictorial sheets, each folded.
Irving Klaw sold photographs of movie stars, pin-ups, and other glamour and cheesecake photographs from his storefront
on East 14th Street. Eventually, in the 1950s, he created his own studio, and expanded to include fetish attire and
bondage scenes, usually with two women. Klaw, most famous for his photographs of Bettie Page and run-in with
censorship in the late 1950s, was responsive to photographers who sent him their work for consideration for sale via
his catalogues.Out of those submissions Klaw created categories with series letters and numbers.One of the series that
came from submissions is the “F.I.” series (female impersonators)—included are both amateur photographers (some of
whom seem to be creating self-portraits) and professional work, which seem to depict performers or entertainers.
168
169