Gummerus, H.O. (ed.):
VISION
Finnish Society of Crafts & Design, [Helsinki, 1966].

When Finnish designers reflect on Finnish design, the result is as serene as a dark lake in a spruce forest.

<-- interior spread (unpaginated)

Meibomius, John Henry:
A TREATISE ON THE USE OF FLOGGING IN MEDICINE AND VENERY
1/500 copies. Isidore Liseux, Paris, 1898.

Apparently a vigorous whipping on the backside sends a glut of overheated blood to the testicles... with predictably bestial consequences.

<-- title page

Turnill, Reginald:
THE OBSERVER'S BOOK OF UNMANNED SPACEFLIGHT
Frederick Warne & Co., London, 1974.

For the geek who gets along better with machines than with people, a guide to Cold War satellites and space probes might offer something like companionship.

<-- front cover

Applegate, Rex:
RIOT CONTROL -- MATERIEL AND TECHNIQUES
Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA, 1969.

The nuts 'n' bolts of political oppression: tear gas deployment, street-fighting tactics, using the baton, etc.

<-- front cover

[Tennyson, Alfred]:
THE WORKS OF ALFRED TENNYSON, POET LAUREATE
E. & J.B. Young & Co., New York, [ca. 1880s].

Overdressed Victorian book pomp: in addition to the lavish binding with its inlaid medallion, all the page-margins inside are festooned with engravings of melancholy landscapes.

<-- front cover

Lettvin, Maggie:
THE BEAUTIFUL MACHINE
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1972.

Not really a book, but a slipcase filled with 180 vaguely erotic photographic cards showing how the author tones her body by bending over a chair, stepping on a phonebook, etc.

<-- front cover