Rebecca Baumann
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arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Rebecca Baumann
@arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
4.1K followers 2.2K following 4.8K posts
rare book librarian, book junkie, devotee of the weird, angry queer, friend to all monsters, nonbinary freak.
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arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
I don’t have a lot of P.E.C. lesbian titles, but the ones I have live up to the promise of “The finest in adult reading.” I’ve been working hard on my Substack and you’ll see one of these soon!
Lesbian Jungle by Vicki Evans. A svelte butch in a tailored suit leans against a bar and chats with a luminous blonde in a slinky silver dress cut to show all her assets. Stripper Duke by Anita Wright. A woman in a crown an feathered carnival costume bends toward us. A woman in purple shirt and slacks is in the background, looking at the stripper with interest. Lesbian Jungle by Vin Saxon. In the center is a white Roman with a teeny tiny metal bikini on. To her right are two more scantily clad white women. To her left is a Black woman wearing a tribal mask. Satan was a Lesbian by Fred Haley. Big Red Satan looms in the background—horns, mustache, silly little beard—the whole nine yards. In the foreground a short-haired butch in black raises a whip towards a quivering blonde. Some idiot Dude (who is not in the story I’ll have you know) raises a fist against the Butch but it looks more like he’s cowering in fear (AS HE SHOULD).
November 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Titles from P.E.C.’s French Line, the publisher’s gay imprint. One of the reasons I can’t find much about P.E.C. is that, unlike their competitors Greenleaf and Milton Luros’ Parliament empire, they weren’t involved in any legal battles that I can find.
A row of PEC French Line gay novels. In Drag by Len Harrington is facing out. A young white person indeterminate gender (likely a trans woman or man performing drag) gazes into the mirror while holding a tube of lipstick. Other titles and authors listed in alt text of additional images. Ollie by Len Harrington. Shirtless Black man in jeans. A lover mourned by Carl Corley. White man in suit looks sad over corpse of another white man in coffin. Male Model by Win Haven. White man in muscle pose. Glory Hole by Danial Evans. A glory hole. The Purple Ring by Carl Corley. Gay sparkly circus men. Satin Chaps by Carl Corley. Cowboy and prone lover in weird melting landscape in space? Fickle and Gay by Alan Fox. White daisy with some petals falling off. Fee males by Bert Schrader. Man looking pained standing in front of a big torch. The Scarlet Lantern by Carl Corley. White man eating rice with Asian man and woman. Fallen Eagle by Carl Corley. Muscley white dude with a big eagle. Cast a wistful eye by Carl Corley. White man lying in flowers. Black Angel by Carl Corley. White man holding glass of wine and a lute.
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Im trying to find more information about P.E.C. (Publisher’s Export Co.). It was a 60s/70s San Diego smut publisher founded by Donald Patrick but I’m really stuck trying to find out anything about him or the company. I know lots of you have P.E.C.s in your collections but does anyone know more?
Four pulp novels: 1) Panda Bear Passion by Orrie Hitt. A nude blonde white woman with GINORMOUS HONKING TIDDIES holds up a plush panda bear against a pink background. 2) Rubber Dolly by Jack Kahler. A white man in a suit kneels in front of a blonde white lady-bot. Or possibly a wired blow-up doll. Hard to say. 3) Psychic Passion by Tiffany Flair (amazing name that). Close-up of the face of a white woman with dark hair. Her eyes are closed as if in ecstasy. Behind her are a man and woman (possibly the same woman) naked and seemingly about ready to start fucking. 4) Lily White and the Dwarf by Amanda Fife. Cover is oriented horizontally, with text and image sideways. A zaftig white blonde woman reclines naked with eyes closed. She holds a rose in front of her pussy.
November 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Boys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses and conduct sacrificial blood rites. #DailyPaperback
Satan’s Daughter. A nude white woman with dark hair sits with a white cloth over her lap and her arms crossed to partially obscure her breasts. She’s wearing glasses.
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
This whole novella is stunning but this passage stopped my heart for a second with its raging truth. #BookStdies #Disability
Holding in both hands an open book three or four centimeters in thickness took a greater toll on my back than any other activity. Being able to see; being able to hold a book; being able to turn pages; being able to go to a bookshop and buy a book—I loathed the exclusionary machismo of book culture that demanded that its participants meet these five criteria of able-bodiedness. I loathed too, the ignorant arrogance of all those self-professed book lovers so obvious to their privilege. Hunchback by Saou Ichikaea. Cover is bright pink with two flowers. A thread of goo connects their stamens in a sexy way.
October 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
I am speechless—bodiless—with wonder over @danchaon.bsky.social’s One of Us. The highest compliment I can pay it is a place on the shelf with the greatest books about carnivals of all time. It’s a very close 3rd—just a hair—behind Geek Love and Nightmare Alley & I will read it again many times.
Dan Chaon’s One of us on a shelf with other books about the carnival: Secrets of the Sideshow by Joe Nickell, Freaks & Fantasies and The Unholy Three by Tod Robbons; Geek Love by Katherine Dunn; Grindshow and Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham; Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand; Very Special People by Frederick Drimmer
October 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Thurston wishes you a happy spooky season 🐈‍⬛ 🎃 🍁
Black cat with an autumn leaf on his head. Grinning Jack o’ Lantern in the background.
October 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Incredible title, incredible cover. Might have to read this one. #DailyPaperback #Gothtober
Bethany’s Sin by Robert McCammon. Title in raised red foil in a swoopy art nouveau font. A white woman clutches the head of a black horse with red eyes.
October 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/1983/02/11/b...

This NYT article claims that the brand name Belair was inserted in the text when cigarettes are mentioned, but I’ve skimmed the book and this is not true but there is an ad in the back.
Advertisement for Belair cigarettes. A white man embraces a white woman from behind, offering her a cigarette. “Lighten up! With low tar Belair.”
October 15, 2025 at 1:31 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
In 1983 Philip Morris bought three Candlelight Romances from Dell to promote Belair cigarettes. These “Compliments of Belair” editions were promotional items for customers.
Love’s Sweet Surrender by Arlene Hale. A Candlelight Romance. “Compliments of Belair.” Cover illustration is a white man and white woman embracing on the beach.
October 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
A day late for the old beast’s birthday but not too late to be a #Gothtober #DailyPaperback
Moonchild by Aleister Crowley. Illustration of a white woman with long dark hair raising her hands in a blessing.
October 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
I love book gimmicks so much I once curated an exhibition called “Death By Gimmick!” so of course I had to order this mayonnaise-sponsored stinky tome. I will follow up with an assessment when I get it.
Book “The Prim Blood and Bone” by Jennifer Armentrout next to a bottle of Hellmann’s Garlic aioli. Bookplate with Hellmann’s logo. This Vampyr-repelling special edition of The Primal of Blood and Bone was printed using garlic aioli infused ink. It was meticulously crafted to repel nocturnal nibblers, specifically the ugly, creepy kind.
October 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Let’s get back to the #DailyPaperback and celebrate #Gothtober, starting with this paperback cut into the shape of a tombstone.
A Small Book of Grave Humor edited by Fritz Spiegl. Mass market paperback is cut into the shape of a tombstone.
October 2, 2025 at 5:37 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
The Detective among the Magicians.
Columbo at a magician funeral. The magician priest is in black with a black top hat. The other magicians are in white with white top hats. The little guy is peeking out in the lower left corner.
September 27, 2025 at 2:35 AM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
A new entry for my folder of pictures of Columbo holding books
Columbo (wearing glasses oooh yeah) holding up a book called Dyson on Mind Reading. The cover shows a cryptic head kind of unraveling upon a purple starry background
September 27, 2025 at 2:33 AM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
I am so honored to be interviewing my friend and new Harlequin author @isabellepopp.bsky.social tonight and showing off some old school romance. First romance novel I’ve been thanked in 😭 It’s a fantastic cozy fall read featuring a fmc with heart and bite—I highly recommend!
Table of romance novels 1950s and 60s Harlequin romances Let’s give ‘em pumpkin to talk about by Isabelle Popp Acknowledgments including thanks to me “for spotlighting romance in the rare book world.
September 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Challenging myself to stop buying duplicate books just because they have Elaine Duillo covers (just kidding I will never stop doing this). #DailyPaperback
Three copies of Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey. Cover is a painting of a white woman with dark hair in flowy lavender dress. She is being embraced by a muscular white man with long blonde hair, no shirt, and black leather pants. The background is pretty purples smattered with stars. The spines of the three books. The left spine has tons of creases and the other two have slightly fewer
September 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
I’m sorry but this is the best product name I have ever seen
Memaw’s Country Kitchen Cheese Tiddies
September 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
I never thought to do this. If my only additions to human knowledge relate to a Mary Shelley story and a quack medical device I am fine with that
Screenshot of two Wikipedia citations. The first is Mary Shelley’s short story “The Dream,” citing my exhibition catalog “Frankenstein 200.” The second is for the quack medical device the Electropoise, citing a Lilly Library blog post.
September 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
First thing I saw him in was The Muppets Take Manhattan, which I still love
September 19, 2025 at 4:48 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
He is always in orbit of Thurston and let’s be honest I got my big cat a little cat
Two black cats looking out a window Two black cats looking out a window, close-up Two black cats snuggling
September 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Just a little guy
Columbo the cat, head tilted Columbo the man, head tilted, holding a pile of books
September 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
His name is Columbo. I found him under a bush in the rain.
Tweet from Jonathan Edward Durham. Therapist: and what do we do when we’re sad? Me: get another used cat? Therapist: (nodding) get another used cat Precious baby angel black cat with a clipped ear clutching the back of an armchair with intense energy.
September 19, 2025 at 1:33 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Very exciting! A few from my collection.
The Daemon by Peter Tuesday Hughes Gay Gothic by Wade Graham My Brother’s Image by Mark Hamilton Gaywyck by Vincent Varga proof copy with letter to Truman Capote.
September 19, 2025 at 1:27 PM
arkhamlibrarian.bsky.social
Huh, are those AI-generated covers for new editions of these books?
September 18, 2025 at 7:22 PM