[CURIOSA - APOUX (Joseph)]. [Pornographic Alphabet]. S.l., [ca. 1880]. -Album in-4, 261 x 202 : 26 plates. Red half-chagrin à la Bradel, smooth spine decorated with a gilt fleuron, untrimmed (early 20th century binding). Very rare pornographic alphabet of 26 color etchings on heavy laid paper, commonly attributed to painter and engraver Joseph Apoux (1846-c. 1910). These engravings show prostitutes, soldiers, gentlemen, servants, clergymen, a grenadier, a jockey, etc., depicted in scenes that follow the curves of the letters. Initially published in black, copies were hand-colored according to demand, probably by the artist himself. The colors of this copy are remarkable, executed in watercolor with highlights of gouache and sometimes gold and silver. This is the copy given as a New Year's gift to bookseller Marc Loliée (1900-1979) in 1935, as indicated by this note on the last endpaper: "January 1, 1935. Marc Loliée // his New Year's gift" followed by this note in another hand: "Mine a pen (his first pen) // and a green morocco wallet." Small epidermis at bottom of spine. Provenance: Marc Loliée.