59. Knowlton, Charles, 1800-1850

The fruits of philosophy : the private companion for young married people / [by Charles Knowlton]. "Genuine edition of the work published by Charles Bradlaugh and Annie Besant" (Melbourne : Will Andrade, [1905]) [From the collection of Howard Norbury; donor: Rosa McCall]

Knowlton was a young American doctor who wrote on birth control. He was fined for circulating The fruits of philosophy among his patients. A Boston printer was fined and imprisoned for three months for publishing a second edition. In 1877 Charles Bradlaugh and Annie Besant were prosecuted for publishing an English edition. They were found guilty of obscenity, fined and sentenced to six months in prison, the sentences were overturned on appeal.

Will Andrade was a radical bookseller in Melbourne; his edition includes illustrated advertisements for birth control devices, available from Andrade’s Medical Department, 201 Bourke Street, Melbourne.