‘Private Collection’ is a unique, eye-opening publication of over 250 pornographic photographs from Danny Moynihan’s personal collection, featuring images made by some of the earliest erotic photographers, dating back to the mid 1800s and the invention of photography itself. Ranging from the artistic to the bawdy to the explicit, ‘Private Collection’ is equally a historical document of 19th century sexual appetites, as it is a slice of titillating coffee-table erotica.

Included in this volume is a rousing essay by Cressida Connolly, which examines the parallel development of pornography and photography, as well as a historical overview of sleaze and sexual practice in 19th century Europe. Since the birth of photography, people have sought out pornographic images – after all, “looking at photographs of people with no clothes on is always exciting”. And, with ‘Private Collection’, never has it been so intriguing.

Born in London in 1959, Danny Moynihan is a painter and writer. He went to the Slade School of Art, London in 1977. In 1981 he opened the Space Gallery with Paul Kasmin and furniture designer Jasper Morrison. Moynihan moved to New York in 1983 where he worked at the Robert Miller Gallery. On his return to London he took up painting again and had several exhibitions in Los Angeles and London. He has curated numerous shows, most notably ‘Psycho’ at Anne Faggionato, London, ‘Artist and Photography’ at Karsten Schubert Gallery, London, and ‘Between a Rock and Hard Place’ at Rove Gallery, London, and is also a founding member of Photo London. Moynihan’s book, ‘Boogie Woogie’, for which he also wrote the screenplay, is currently in production starring Gillian Anderson, Charlotte Rampling and Heather Graham. His book ‘Bait’ is being published in 2008.