The Arts of Beauty; or, Secrets of a Lady's Toilet. With Hints to Gentlemen on the Art of Fascinating -
Madame Lola Montez, Countess of Landsfeld
1858 - Dick &, New York - First Edition
‘If Lola Montez’s life was a film script it would be rejected for being too far fetched. With Franz Liszt, Alexandre Dumas and King Ludwig of Bavaria among her many lovers, and shootings, drownings, bigamy and adultery, you just couldn’t make it up.’ - The Irish Times.
The beautiful and fiery Montez had fictional affairs with Harry Flashman,and is reputed to be the inspiration for Irene Adler, in Conan Doyle’s ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, her infamous ‘Spider Dance’ involved the discovery and removal of numerous spiders amongst her petticoats whilst whirling around in the style of a Spanish gypsy, and the various fatal endings of many lovers was just as spider like.
In this rare little tome she reveals all the secrets required to be, well, Lola Montez. The last fabulous chapter specifically for Gentlemen provides ‘Fifty Rules in the Art of Fascinating’. A superb example, without the use of powders, paints, pomades, embellishment, beautification, or sophistication.
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl... or more appropriately, Like the spider to a fly...
‘She is fatal to any man who dares to love her.’ - Alexandre Dumas. ‘To all Men and Women of every land, who are not Afraid of Themselves, who trust so much in their own souls that they dare to stand up in the might of their own Individuality to meet the tidal currents of the World, this book is respectfully dedicated.’ - Lola Montez.
Duodecimo (book size 17.3x12cm), pp. [2] xvii [1] 19-132 [12 (publisher’s ads] [2]. In publishers red cloth, decorated in blind, spine and front board with additional lettering and decoration in gilt, brown coated endpapers. Condition: Very good,some faint marks to cloth, wear to edges with light loss to spine ends, gentle foxing to pages. Ref: 111632 Price: HK$ 10,000
The beautiful and fiery Montez had fictional affairs with Harry Flashman,and is reputed to be the inspiration for Irene Adler, in Conan Doyle’s ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, her infamous ‘Spider Dance’ involved the discovery and removal of numerous spiders amongst her petticoats whilst whirling around in the style of a Spanish gypsy, and the various fatal endings of many lovers was just as spider like.
In this rare little tome she reveals all the secrets required to be, well, Lola Montez. The last fabulous chapter specifically for Gentlemen provides ‘Fifty Rules in the Art of Fascinating’. A superb example, without the use of powders, paints, pomades, embellishment, beautification, or sophistication.
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl... or more appropriately, Like the spider to a fly...
‘She is fatal to any man who dares to love her.’ - Alexandre Dumas. ‘To all Men and Women of every land, who are not Afraid of Themselves, who trust so much in their own souls that they dare to stand up in the might of their own Individuality to meet the tidal currents of the World, this book is respectfully dedicated.’ - Lola Montez.
Duodecimo (book size 17.3x12cm), pp. [2] xvii [1] 19-132 [12 (publisher’s ads] [2]. In publishers red cloth, decorated in blind, spine and front board with additional lettering and decoration in gilt, brown coated endpapers. Condition: Very good,some faint marks to cloth, wear to edges with light loss to spine ends, gentle foxing to pages. Ref: 111632 Price: HK$ 10,000