Making Love: The Picador Book of Erotic Verse gathers centuries of erotic poetry into one volume, from Classical fragments and medieval bawdiness to Restoration wit and 20th-century confession – a standard late-seventies literary erotic pick 'n' mix. Inside, the selection moves between the literary, the bawdy, and the frankly filthy.

We chose this 1978 Pan Books paperback edition for its illustrated cover that wraps right around the book, starting off suggestive on the front and becoming decidedly more explicit once you turn it over. The real gem, though, is the flyleaf inscription: ‘To Dad, From Paul, Xmas ’80.’ We sincerely hope he meant “Daddy”.