[5 Vols Inscribed to Doug Martin]: Different Strokes, Greek Ways, My Brother, My Self, The Boys in Blue, and Shuttlecock

San Francisco: Perineum Press, 1983-1984. First editions. 140; 159; 139; 145; 174pp. Glued in wraps featuring cover illustrations by Tom of Finland. All volumes signed and inscribed by Steward (as Phil Andros) to half-titles.

Presentation copies of five volumes of gay erotic fiction written under his Phil Andros pseudonym by American academic, tattoo artist, and novelist Samuel Steward (1909-1993), each volume inscribed in Steward's charmingly rococo script to close friend Douglas Martin. A student of Steward's at DePaul University in the early 1950s, Martin wrote Steward a warm letter of re-introduction in 1977, thus sparking a prolific correspondence acknowledged by Steward's biographer Justin Spring as "the most significant and sustaining friendship of Steward's final decades," and "the single greatest consolation to him in his otherwise very lonely old age" (Secret Historian, p.378).

Steward's fondness for Martin is evident in his inscription in My Brother, My Self: "For Doug—hoping he'll live as long as he wants to, and want to as long as he lives." In Different Strokes, meanwhile, Steward alludes to one of the early points of connection established in their correspondence, namely a habit shared by both men of keeping detailed records of their many sexual adventures: "For Doug Martin—who has prolly had more different strokes than I have." The Boys in Blue ("For Doug Martin a guy who now and then is blew") and Shuttlecock ("Keep your tanks filled, baby!") make salacious play on the works' titles, while Steward's inscription in Greek Ways turns slightly self-conscious: "Will there be no end to these dirty, foul, and obscene fripperies? (well, maybe...) luv Phil Andros." Two of the volumes also with a handful of annotations in Steward's hand, primarily correcting typos and formatting errors ("shitty damned computer!"). Altogether, a unique and charming grouping, offering a revealing window into an important relationship in Steward's life. 

Near fine, with light rubbing and wear to wraps, mild fading to spines.