Historians seem to agree that condoms were first used for prevention of pregnancy, and by wealthy men only. That makes sense, since women were naturally held to the task of avoiding impregnation, and only wealthy men might wish to keep their seed from being spread outside the marriage bed.
Early condoms, perhaps worn first in ancient China, were apparently small devices that covered the glans only, made from oiled silk paper or lamb intestines. Later, in Japan, they were made of tortoise shell or animal horn. Ouch . . . not for the wearer, but for the receiver!
When a particularly deadly strain of syphilis broke out in Europe in the late 15th century, condoms began to be developed to stop the spread of this disease. One treatise describes linen sheaths soaked in chemicals and allowed to dry. These devices, which covered the glans only, were tied on with a ribbon, giving a whole new meaning to the words baby’s bonnet.
After 1500, penis protection became much more widespread throughout Europe. They were called “condoms” gradually, starting in the mid-1600s; and they might be made of animal intestines and bladders, or of linen. Here’s an interesting note from Wiki:
“In the late 15th century, Dutch traders introduced condoms made from “fine leather” to Japan. Unlike the horn condoms used previously, these leather condoms covered the entire penis.”
The notorious philanderer Cassanova was proud of his “assurance caps,” and was reported to have given demonstrations by blowing into them, proudly showing their lack of holes (see photo).
In spite of opposition—mainly from the clergy—condoms, once developed, multiplied quickly. According to Wiki, they “were sold at pubs, barbershops, chemist shops, open-air markets, and at the theater throughout Europe and Russia.” Once they spread to America, land of invention and individuality, condoms became more and more sophisticated.
Skipping ahead a bit, I want to discuss the use of condoms in my Gaslight Mysteries novels. In the first novel HEART TO HART, Michael slips a clumsy latex condom out of his dresser drawer. It seems that, since the mid 1800’s and Charles Goodyear’s discovery of processing natural rubber, condoms could be made of stretched rubber, wrapped around the penis and held in place with a rubber ring. These early condoms were thick as a bicycle inner tube. One imagines that while one partner might enjoy the enlargement, the other might suffer the indignity of feeling nothing at all.
Anyway, by the time Michael was seducing Simon, condoms began to be made from latex, rubber suspended in water rather than in gasoline or benzene. These protective devices were stronger, thinner, and had a shelf life up to five years.
In the next novel, SPARRING WITH SHADOWS, Michael slyly leaves a package for his flatmate. It’s a condom made of thin animal bladder, the latest in American-made protection, thin enough and pliable enough to ensure the man’s pleasure as well as the other obvious benefits.
Many of the photos that follow are taken from the following website: http://www.ep.tc/condom-envelopes/ a gallery of images assembled by Ethan Persoff, http://www.ep.tc
Thanks, Ethan. I “borrow” them with gratitude.
Just a note: The U.S.-manufactured Sheik and Ramses brands were well established by 1882. Trojans, also developed in America, were popular then as now. (As a USC grad, I have to add here: Go! Trojans!)
Paper packaging was, and remains, a popular dispensary for condoms.
In the source listed above, Ethan Persoff notes:
The very interesting book “Remember your rubbers!” (Collectible Condom Containers) by Elliott, Goehring and O’Brien published by Schiffer Publishing Co., strangely does not show any of the examples offered here on eBay by us. Does this mean these are rarer than their tin counterparts?
It also states the following on paper packaging: “Interestingly enough, both the oldest and newest rubber packages are envelopes. India rubbers, latex rubbers and animal membrane prophylactics are found in envelopes. Most hold one dozen rubbers lying flat, though a few can be found with one quarter dozen. “Genuine Liquid Latex” rubbers came packaged with four (rolled) to an envelope and wrapped in cellophane. Rarer are envelopes with a single rubber in the package…”
To conclude, I need to add that my men use condoms sparingly, and not at all, after they become “exclusive” lovers. But we as readers need to realize they were not only available, but necessary in an age when syphilis, “The Great Pox,” and other STDs were a leading cause of death among men.
This brief treatise on vintage comdoms is brought to you by a series of retro gay mysteries…namely Erin O’Quinn’s Gaslight Mystery series. The novels are all on O’Quinn’s new Kindle series page:
~The Gaslight Mysteries
And of course on my author pages:
Kindle US http://amzn.to/1w8PVgI
Kindle UK http://amzn.to/24BcIcj
QRI http://bit.ly/2mnG1hL (all links, reviews, excerpts, more)
SeaToSky http://bit.ly/2lJ72bd (epub or pdf links, excerpts)
Smashwords http://bit.ly/1s3cf1q (epub)
Just a note on the use of condoms in my novels. From HEART TO HART onward (chronologically) I have my men wear condoms. It’s safe, it’s clean, it can be very sexy. What’s not to like?
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Respectfully, condom use among gay men in the US has been declining for almost a decade. Barebacking is quite common today in the gay community – despite the obvious drawbacks. So, I’d have to say that there’s a lot not to like about condoms.
I’m curious, what support have you found that a gay man would use condoms in the 20s? I appreciate that readers are often uncomfortable with condom-less sex. I write a series set in the early 80s and I’ve comments about that discomfort – but it would be completely anachronistic to have guys using condoms before 1984/1985. I lived through that period and believe me… you would have been laughed out of bed to suggest it.
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Dear Marshall,
I freely admit that having 1920s men using condoms in a homoerotic relationship is my own fancy. But: Since condoms were obviously abundant, why would gays NOT have used them? In those days, as hundreds of years before, there was a thriving gay community throughout Europe and the UK. To me, logic dictates that gay men would have used protection, if only from the mess involved in bareback riding. Remember, douche kits were rare back then, and even bathtubs not always prevalent. Condoms MAY have been used in 1923 Ireland. As I noted in my comment after the article, I have all my men from the 1920s on use condoms.
Besides, the character Simon is beyond fastidious. Michael uses a condom out of respect for that, which I hope I make clear in the book.
Btw, write back and leave a link to one of your series. I’d like to take a look . . . and I’m sure my readers would too.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. ~Erin
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A fastidious character certainly would help sell me the idea. But while it MAY have happened I still find it highly unlikely. Now, barebacking (as I recall from my pre safe-sex days) was rarely messy. Sex was certainly not as trouble free as it’s presented in fiction (including mine) but it also wasn’t a guaranteed mess. And, a condom would only mitigate a mess – not eliminate it. (there’s a pun in there that was not intended.)
I’m aware of gay communities in large cities going back quite a ways historically, though I’m not sure I’d used the word thriving – at least not in a contemporary sense. I don’t think there were fag rags until the 50s, which has been an important way of sharing information for decades (though fading quickly)… so the spread of information would be quite different than it is today. Which would effect how sex was perceived.
In fact, I’ve seen the VCR credited with an increase in anal sex. Until a large number of gay men were watching porn, there was much more interest in mutual masturbation, fellatio and frottage. Today it’s very uncommon to find a gay man who doesn’t enjoy anal sex from at least one side – but fifty years ago it was common to find gay men who never did it.
Certainly, much of m/m has a fantasy element so you have quite a bit of leeway with readers. And all writers take some liberties with historical fiction. I was mainly curious to know if you had information that I did not regarding the 20s. (and certainly have found much to not like about condoms)
I write the Boystown series set in Chicago beginning in 1981.
Thanks for responding.
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Great post Erin! Thanks for the link offer. I just recently left the Victorian age publishing the sequel Loving Leonardo — The Quest. I have an (R)excerpt on my satellite blog http://theancillarymuse.blogspot.com/.
Best Luck. 🙂
Rose
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Hi, Rose,
You’re a welcome voice on my blog. What’s your opinion on giving gay men condoms in the 1920s? Not everyone thinks it’s realistic. I look forward to reading your excerpt, and your book.
All best, Erin
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I never did find that they were used between men in the 19th c. I can’t say if that would be the case later on. My writer’s instinct says no.
I did come across a sheep intestine condom stored in a jar of olive oil and marigold petals — ick. Now there’s a mood breaker.
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This was FASCINATING, Erin! I was remiss, it looks like, in avoiding any mention of it in Desire – for Javier could indeed have worn protection, but since the want for children is played upon a bit, perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered, but this just FASCINATES me. Thank you for sharing it!
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I think that men could always avoid the pregnancy part of using their bare phallus . . . just look at old Onan in the Bible! But those who wanted to penetrate without the resulting mess (and possible disease) would have come up with a solution. Mankind (and here I include women) will always find a way to let pleasure be felt.
Glad you liked this! And btw, I think few people will fault you for not having vampyres use condoms. 😉
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Tortoise shell condoms– Yikes! Interesting post. I had no idea condoms had been in use for so long.
http://www.facebook.com/karenmichellenutt
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Um, yeah, ouch! Still, it’s interesting that men even tried this and that. Wisps of silk/paper seem more humane and might give a little more pleasure to the wearer. But ones made of leather? Ha. Perhaps good for the goose, but not for the gander.
Thanks for contributing! ~Erin
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I’m glad you wrote this post. Quite informative and what I like about it is that you show people that a lot of these so-called “modern” devices are actually not so young in their development and use. In the novels I’m writing right now, I’m using all kinds of different items for pleasurable or kinky sex, and it’s surprising to find that many of these things were created hundreds to thousands of years ago. So to use them in a novel that is set anywhere in the 20’s or 30’s isn’t inappropriate, necessarily, and with some creative license, you can create a fun story.
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Hi, Scarlet, thanks for responding! Yes, I admit to using the ol’ poetic license, presupposing that gays in the 1920s would have used condoms. Fact is, they were available, whoever used them. Your book sounds positively enticing. Good luck with it!
All best, Erin
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Just want Marshall to know that, hey, I liked the “feel” of your book/series and am about to hit the BUY button on Amazon. My own PI series may never rise to the level of yours, but I sure hope someday I’ll create a true keeper. Come back and visit for my next post, all about jockey straps in the early 1900s.
Again, I appreciate your perspective and experience. ~Erin
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We found one in the wall behind the medicine cabinet when we redid our bathroom. It was from the thirties and in a little blue and yellowed-white paper packet
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Hi Kathy, that is really interesting! Too bad you didn’t save it. Maybe someday you’ll write a book around that find, how it ended up behind the wall…who lived there…Fascinating.
I’m glad you found this site. Stay tuned for more interesting articles as I have time to post. ~Erin
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Absolutely fascinating post Erin. I was enthralled reading about the history of these items dating back so far. In my novels, which are contemporary, my guys always use condoms to start with then as they get to know each other , I leave them out and from that point on, it’s all bareback and for them, more enjoyment. The mess doesn’t bother my men either -they’re pretty easygoing 🙂
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Dear Susan, How great that you found this site, and that you enjoyed the article. Yes, as men become a real couple, the only need for condoms might be the “sanitary” factor, though that may not be so important after all, for couples. Hey come back and leave us a link to one of your books. ~Erin
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Reblogged this on Author Susan Mac Nicol and commented:
A wonderful post on a very unusual subject…
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Dear Susan, Thanks so much for the reblog, and for the share on FB. My guys in the Gaslight Mysteries series (ca. 1923) wore and kind of enjoyed some of these animal bladder and latex jobbies…Just because I believe in safe sex, I make them believe too.
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Thought you might be interested in this, Erin.
http://www.origamicondoms.com
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Thanks, Susan. That is weirdly titillating. 😉
Even though I’m most interested in the condoms of 100 years ago and before, I’m a grad of USC…go TROJANS! and I appreciate all such articles. Thanks for the visit.
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Hey Erin! Great blogpost. I will share it on my blog too.
On the subject of whether to use condoms in our stories; we’re all writing fantasies! however realistic. I find that making stories safe as well as sexy – and safe can be sexy – is usually taken as just part of the ride ;). In all the screams of outrage about my werewolf stories (“depraved filth” howled one Amazon reviewer, LOL), nobody ever said a werewolf should not be wearing a condom .
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Hi, Naoko, and thanks. High praise! I agree. As silly as it sounds, the real question is “why NOT?” Let’s extol safe sex, even in fantasies, unless it’s too ridiculous to imagine. Dolphin condoms? Heffalump condoms? Well, I can see both . . . 😀
Next time, leave a link to your blog.
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