Arcana Journals

William Simpson Potter, born in 1805 and passing in 1879, was an English author and collector known for his travels and business acumen. He was a contemporary and friend of Henry Spencer Ashbee, a significant figure in bibliographies of erotic literature. Potter authored two books detailing his observations during the Prince of Wales' 1875-1876 tour of India, which are held by the British Library. These works, 'A Letter from the East' (1877) and 'Letters from India' (1876), provide accounts of his travels.

Potter's association with erotic literature stems from his potential authorship of 'The Romance of Lust' (1873-1876), a novel published anonymously. While some sources attribute it to other writers like Edward Sellon, bibliographer Henry Spencer Ashbee suggested 'The Romance of Lust' was a collaborative effort, partly by a gentleman known for collecting erotic materials, which aligns with Potter's profile. Stylistic comparisons of Potter's travel letters with 'The Romance of Lust' reveal similarities not found when comparing with Sellon's works. Potter also has a potential connection to the character 'Mr Chambon' in 'The Sins of the City of the Plain', as he was acquainted with the book's publisher and resided in a location mirroring the character's described address.

William Simpson Potter documented his experiences during the Prince of Wales' extensive visit to India in 1875-1876. His observations and reflections from this journey were compiled into two distinct published works. 'Letters from India during H. R. H. the Prince of Wales visit in 1875–6', addressed to his sister, was published in 1876. Another related work, 'A Letter from the East: from William S. Potter, to his niece, Mrs. Addison Potter', dated 1877, further elaborates on his experiences. Both of these volumes are preserved in the collections of the British Library, offering insights into the period and the author's perspective on the royal tour.

Potter's name is notably linked to the Victorian erotic novel 'The Romance of Lust', published between 1873 and 1876 under the guise of anonymity. While the novel's authorship is debated, with some attributions pointing to Edward Sellon, Henry Spencer Ashbee, a prominent collector and bibliographer of erotic works, indicated that the novel was not the product of a single author but a compilation. Ashbee alluded to a collaborator who was a well-known collector of erotic art and artifacts, a description that fits Potter. Further analysis suggests stylistic parallels between Potter's known travel writings and 'The Romance of Lust', while comparisons with Sellon's works show fewer similarities, strengthening the case for Potter's involvement.

Beyond his authorship, William Simpson Potter was recognized as an ardent collector and an enthusiastic traveler. His friendship with Henry Spencer Ashbee, an authority on erotic literature and collector himself, placed him within a circle of literary eccentrics and bibliophiles. Ashbee described Potter as a shrewd businessman, highlighting his multifaceted personality. Potter's life concluded in Catania in 1879, where he had gone to recuperate his health. His residence in Cornwall Mansions near Baker Street Station in his later years also draws a parallel with the character 'Mr Chambon' in 'The Sins of the Cities of the Plain', a book published by his acquaintance William Lazenby.

“shrewd business man, the ardent collector, and the enthusiastic traveller”

“The Romance of Lust is not the produce of a single pen, but consists of several tales,'orient pearls at random strung,' woven into a connected narrative by a gentleman, perfectly well known to the present generation of literary eccentrics and collectors, as having amassed one of the most remarkable collections of erotic pictures and bric-a-brac ever brought together.”

“...died January 16, 1879, in his 74th year, at Catania, whither he had repaired for the sake of his health”