Seized Books! LGBTQ+books and censorship in 1980s Britain: A catalogue
We are delighted to have copies of the catalogue for Seized Books! LGBTQ+books and censorship in 1980s Britain, an online exhibition at Senate House Library about the HMRC raid 'Operation Tiger' on Gay's The Word bookshop in April 1984.
On 10 April 1984, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise raided Gay’s the Word bookshop in London’s Bloomsbury. 'Operation Tiger' saw officers seize over 140 titles, worth thousands of pounds.
Bookshop staff and directors were charged with conspiracy to import so-called ‘indecent or obscene’ material. But Gay’s the Word and their supporters fought back...
The brand new catalogue has an Introduction from curators Sarah Pyke and Leila Kassir, an Afterword by Micheal Bronski, and is completed with illustrations by Esther McManus. The booklet was designed and printed by PageMasters, https://www.pagemasters.co/gallery.
The main content of the catalogue lists the books featured in the Seized Books! Gallery and includes the title, author, and a short description of each book. The full gallery and further information can be accessed online here: https://www.london.ac.uk/about/services/senate-house-library/exhibitions/seized-books
All proceeds from the sale of the catalogue will be donated to the Gay's The Word Pay-It-Forward scheme.
With thanks to Senate House Library, Leila Kassir, and Sarah Pyke.
Photograph credits: Image 1, Erica Gillingham; Images 2 and 3, Pete Williams
Details
Publisher: Senate House Library
Illustrator: Esther McManus
Designer/Printer: PageMasters
Process: Risograph, Thermography
Paper: Munken Lynx
Binding: Singer Sewn