G. P. Putnam's Sons v. Calissi

235 A.2d 893, 50 N.J. 397, 1967 N.J. LEXIS 182

Opinions

The opinion of the court was delivered

Pee Cueiam.

The Superior Court, Chancery Division, enjoined G. P. Putnam’s Sons from publishing, selling or distributing in New Jersey John Cleland’s Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, more commonly known as Fanny Hill. The injunction was based upon that court’s finding that the book is obscene. G. P. Putnam’s Sons v. Calissi, 86 N. J. Super. 82 (Ch. Div. 1964). G. P. Putnam’s Sons appealed to the Appellate Division and we certified before argument there.

Under the standards enunciated by the United States Supreme Court, it must be concluded that publishing, selling, or distributing the book in question is protected from governmental supression by the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Redrup v. New York, 386 U. S. 767, 87 S. Ct. 1414, 18 L. Ed. 2d 515 (1967); see A Book Named “John Cleland’s Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure” v. Attorney General of Massachusetts, 383 U. S. 413, 86 S. Ct. 975, 16 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1966); see also Potomac News Co. v. United States, 389 U. S. 47, 88 S. Ct. 233, 19 L. Ed. 2d 46 (Oct. 23, 1967), reversing 373 F. 2d 635 (4th Cir. 1967); Central Magazine Sales Ltd. v. United States, 389 U. S. 50, 88 S. Ct. 235, 19 L. Ed. 2d 49 (Oct. 23, 1967), reversing 373 F. 2d 633 (4th Cir. 1967).

Accordingly, the judgment of the Chancery Division is reversed.