Between the Covers

Unbound. Silver gelatin print. Wire photo. Image measuring approximately 7" x 9½" on slightly larger paper. Dated April 24, 1929 on the verso, along with two other tamps and Dennett's name typed and in pencil; some masking fluid around Dennett's face (for contrast in the final printed image in the newspaper). Marginal corner chip, two tiny pinholes and a few small creases (one at her face) in the image, and a 2¼" split in the upper left with tape reinforcement verso, a handsome, near very good image.

In 1915, Dennett self-published *The Sex Side of Life: An Explanation for Young People*, written as an educational booklet for her sons. In 1929 the book caused Mary Dennett to face a federal indictment for obscenity, violating the Comstock Act of 1873, which stated that no information regarding sex, birth control, or abortion may be circulated in the mail. This portrait was almost certainly taken to accompany a story about the trial; five days after this image was taken, on April 29th, the court ruled that Dennett's pamphlet was obscene and fined her $300, which she refused to pay. However, court discovered that the Post Office had created a fake person to trick Dennett into mailing a copy of her pamphlet,, in order to file a case. In January of the following year, Dennett appealed, and in March, the original ruling was reversed, further noting that because Dennett's intent was educational, the pamphlet did not qualify as obscene. A nice image from an important historical moment.

Item #605132