Lot 66

Mattachine Book Service, New York City Gay Scene Guide. 1968.

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Mattachine Book Service, New York City Gay Scene Guide. 1968.

Estimate: $2,500 - $3,500

Starting Bid: $1,900

(0 Bids)

by Swann Auction Galleries
August 13, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
Live Auction
104 East 25th Street
New York, NY, US 10010

Mattachine Book Service

New York City Gay Scene Guide. 1968.

"Vol. #2, Complete 1969 Edition." 32 pages including wrappers in black and red. Octavo, original staple-bound illustrated wrappers, minimal wear. New York: Apollo Book Co., 1968.

This guide was issued in late 1968, just a few months before the Stonewall Rebellion. The Stonewall is named in the listings of Manhattan bars: "It continues operating amid persistent rumors of closing. Caters to a younger crowd who seem to spend all their time perfecting their dancing. Observers note that 'go-go-boys' installed on platforms have failed to attract the dwindling crowds." The recent prosecution of the club's mobster co-owner for extortion and larceny is also discussed. In addition to the listings and ads, the guide includes longer pieces on political activism, the "Gay Cruising Scene," the Homosexual Bill of Rights, and "Wave of Killings Shock Homosexual Community." Other annual and quarterly editions of this guide were issued by the Mattachine Book Service, which is uncredited here but actually held the copyright per "The Stonewall Riots: A Documentary History," page 326.

  • Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (21.6 x 14 cm.)
  • Condition: Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

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