Scarce early paperback edition of James Barr’s groundbreaking gay novel Quatrefoil, first published in 1950 and here reissued by Paperback Library in 1965 (2nd printing, February 1967). Widely considered one of the first positive portrayals of same-sex love in American fiction, Quatrefoil defied social taboos with its story of a Navy officer and a young enlisted man who fall in love despite the constraints of mid-century society.

This edition, marked “First Time in Paperback,” includes a new introduction by the author reflecting on the novel’s reception and legacy. Long out of print and now recognized as a landmark in LGBTQ+ literary history, Quatrefoil remains a vital piece for collectors of vintage queer literature and pulp paperbacks.

Author: James Barr (pseudonym of George Baer Jr.)

Publisher: Paperback Library, Inc. (New York)

Year: 1965 (2nd printing 1967)

Special Attributes: Paperback Edition, Early LGBTQ+ Novel, Author Introduction

Topic: LGBTQ+ Fiction, U.S. Navy, Mid-Century Literature

Subject: Gay Fiction, Queer Literature, Vintage Paperback

Keywords: James Barr Quatrefoil, Paperback Library 1965, vintage gay novel, LGBTQ pulp, queer classic

Condition

Good. Cover shows moderate wear with creases, rubbing, and edge wear. Spine intact with light reading creases. Pages toned with age but clean and unmarked. Binding remains sound.