Second — and heavily revised — edition of this rare and notorious memoir about the life and business of a sex worker.
Very good plus.
Price: $1,000.00
"I dedicate this humble effort to make the misspent years of my life count for something."
Composed when she was 31 years old and under indictment for attempted murder (she was acquitted), this fascinating self-published account helped make Jean O'Hara (in)famous throughout the country. Preceded by a very rare mimeographed edition under the title MY LIFE AS A HONOLULU PROSTITUTE, it was penned with a clear agenda, including managing her public image during her trial — the vice squad and one Chief Gabrielson come in for particular opprobrium. O'Hara's sympathies clearly lie with sex workers. However, in the original mimeo edition the tone is largely unapologetic, offering clear and frank explanations of the realities and economics of the profession (from political pay-offs to inflated bordello rents). Her argument is primarily that illegality and corruption — not the inherent work itself — lead to greater suffering for sex workers than necessary. She bases her observations on her time in Hawaii during WWII, where prostitution was semi-legal, operated under the tacit authority of the police. But in this revised edition, her aim has shifted more heavily to image rehabilitation. Although HONOLULU HARLOT is not entirely rewritten, prostitution becomes "white slavery," and O'Hara's voice is much more that of the reformed sinner. Rare in any edition; OCLC locates only three copies of this one, with only one outside of Hawaii (UC Berkeley).
First edition thus. n.p. [Honolulu]: n.p. [The Author], 1944. 8'' x 5.25''. Original stapled photographic wrappers. 48 pages. Minor edge/shelfwear. Small scuff to front cover. Faint toning internally. Overall, clean and sound.
We work hard to meet our ethical responsibility to describe our material accurately. All items are guaranteed as described and may be returned for any reason within 30 days. Please notify us before mailing a return.
We guarantee the authenticity of our items. All materials are original (meaning not facsimiles or reproductions) unless otherwise noted. First editions (meaning first edition, first printing) are explicitly stated. TPM is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America and upholds their Code of Ethics.
All photographs are of the actual item for sale. We're happy to provide additional images on request.
All domestic orders ship gratis. For orders under $250, free USPS media mail shipping is included; orders $250 and over ship USPS Ground Advantage. International orders over $1000 also ship gratis. Expedited, overnight, as well as other carriers (UPS, Fed-Ex, etc.), may carry additional costs beyond quoted rates. All orders receive tracking information and a direct contact in case of any questions.
International buyers are responsible for any customs, taxes, and related import fees. Please note that we are unable to accomodate requests to misrepresent, misdeclare, or otherwise falsify customs documents when shipping internationally. We appreciate your understanding.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, check, money order, and bank wire. We are happy to bill institutional buyers' needs. Sales tax will be added to applicable purchases. Items subject to prior sale.
If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your purchase, please contact us. We prioritize our long-term relationships far above any individual purchase, and we want you to love your item as much as we loved cataloguing it.
Type Punch Matrix is a Washington D.C.-area rare book firm founded by Rebecca Romney and Brian Cassidy.
Read more about TPM.
