The Leatherman's Handbook: Golden Anniversary Edition

The underground classic that has changed lives for 50 years is back!Originally published in 1972, The Leatherman’s Handbook opened doors to a world that had previously been seen only in the shadows. For the first time, a reference book captured the who, what, where, why, and how of Leather--backed up by racy descriptions that put all of the technical details into sweaty, sexy narratives. The book was a lifeline for men who felt outcast from the societies they existed in.By the time the Millennium Edition was released in 2000 to celebrate the book’s Silver Jubilee, the world had changed because of “the catastrophe”—AIDS. Townsend's comments and annotations are preserved to show how much and how quickly the world changed for him and his audience. Original pen-and-ink illustrations were added, and mail-order catalogs for Townsend's other books filled the back pages. Although the societal pressures had shifted, the political marginalization reached a new tone alongside the devastation wrought by a mysterious virus.This Golden Anniversary edition, with special cover by artist Ego Rodriguez, will celebrate the ways the world has changed—yet again. Townsend himself wrote: “As for myself, I suppose I should look forward to the Golden Jubilee, by which time I hope the health crisis will be long gone and we will have been able to revert back to some of the behavior I so blithely described twenty-five years ago.” Perhaps the community has reached such a point--but old dangers with new faces now plague it: suppression, isolation, fear, and misunderstanding.The Leatherman's Handbook has opened doors for generations of Leatherfolk--and is now available once more for the next generations of the Leather community. Read more