Good grief, it’s a classic!

Does anyone remember the original “Joy of Sex” book? My parents had a hard copy, big thick book, white cover with gold writing, hidden in the cedar chest. Any ways … I was in an old book store and found this same book. When I opened it up, all the illustrations were coloured over in black. I asked the book store owner if he knew this book was like this. He told me that all copies of this book were to be blacked out because some law is saying it was pornography. Has anyone ever heard about this ? Blacking out certain pictures/ illustrations before being sold in seconds hand stores ? I think every parent back in the day had this book. It’s a classic!!

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Piper · 61-69, F

I remember it well. I worked for B. Dalton Bookseller in the late 70' and 80's and sold the book. Unlike some magazines like Playboy, Playgirl and similar but more hardcore magazines sold there, that book was not considered "porn".

That's really weird, about illusrations being blacked out. I do realize that books are being and have been banned or censored in certain venues, but never heard of of it being a law extending to a secondhand book store.

MaggieMay6255 · 51-55, F

@Piper I honestly don’t know if there is an actual law. This is what I was told. ( with blackout pages ). I hope it is not true. For this or any other book. ☹️

Piper · 61-69, F

@MaggieMay6255 I hope it isn't true, too. While there are books that a seller could reasonably want no part of offering for profit, blacking out illustrations in a book just sounds strange.

MaggieMay6255 · 51-55, F

@Piper I totally agree with you. Never seen that before. I have been to a lot of bookstores.