#302323 - Klaw Photos Volume Two

Klaw Photos, Volume Two
an original anthology
derived from multiple sources
1948 – 1963

optimized for ebook viewing

Some of the photos in this anthology were produced by Mr. Klaw and some were produced by others in the 1960s. They all reflect the styles of a single epoch.

Mr. Klaw's first business involved the sale of print photographs (8 x 10 glossies) originally intended to advertise feature films. Hollywood studios would send a set of 12 pictures as part of press kits to movie theaters that exhibited and to publications that reviewed films. He acquired them from these sources after they used them for their intended purpose.

At his Manhattan store, pictures were organized by movie titles and actor names. Legend says that he received continuous requests for movie stills that showed Hollywood actresses tied up and damsel in distress scenes. As each set of 12 contained no more than one or two of these, he never had enough to satisfy demand.

The popularity of this scenario suggested the idea that he make his own photos and illustrations of damsels in distress and sell them by mail. Persecution by local law enforcement and postal officials hastened his hegira to New Jersey, where he began publishing his Nutrix booklets on several themes, including bondage.

The current collection includes photo images orchestrated by Mr. Klaw and his sister, Pauline. Most settings are the rooms of old houses. Models usually wear full-fashioned nylons, bras, big panties and pumps, many with high heels. Some sequences show one model tying another. Most bondage schemes depend on ropes connected to furniture, door frames, or wood frames.

In one set, a model is roped to an inclined board outdoors. In two pictures, a woman in white bra, garter belt, stockings and panties is gagged with a kerchief and tied to a wood fence. One scene seems inspired by damsel-in-distress movies as the gagged captive's stare at the handset of a dial telephone, just inches away. Some arms are fastened around thick wood dowels.

Photographs are placed as singles, pairs and longer sets. When possible, pictures are sequenced to show narrative progression. In one set, a model extricates herself from bondage when her captor isn't looking.

In many pictures, some walls and floors were cropped out. This practice intends to show models as large as possible on optimized ebook pages. Others images include pianos, furniture, appliances and plumbing shown in the originals.

Tonality of photographs was adjusted, shadows reduced and many specks retouched. Editing clarifies details in most images. About 240 pages.

All new scans of magazine and Nutrix pages.

This unique collection of mid-century damsel-in-distress photographs exposes styles in hair, furniture, footwear and lingerie. Ebook presentation adds clarity to antique bondage imagery.

One optimized ebook, delivered by download from your 30th Street Graphics account.