The 50s and 60s were interesting times for gay erotica with the surprising proliferation of tantalizing titles covering every perceived fetish within the then-still-very-much-underground homosexual community. While some publishers pushed the boundaries to portray gay life as a fun, free-for-all sexual romp, some stereotypes. Ryan Richardson, the curator of Gay on the Range, the ultimate online archive of gay sleaze paperback covers, writes of this time:

"...gay paperback covers portrayed a fantasy world full of clichés and misguidedness and absurdities. Thanks to the defiant and talented artists working for publishers like Corinth/Greenleaf, being gay didn't have to mean a tortured and miserable existence... in fact, it could be downright fun! Look at all the smiling faces and knowing looks gracing the covers on imprints like Adult Book, Companion Book, Late Hour Library, and Leisure Book. There are, of course, plenty of pathological and unfunny treatments mixed in as well..."

Let's take a look at some of the most salacious depictions of man-on-man sex fantasies in my favorite covers of vintage gay books:

Every party needs one...

The gays won't let one honest cop stand...

The Bruce Jenner story...

They never go anywhere without their loaded pistols...

Even living cadavers want him...

"He was too gay for his own good" -- my new Twitter bio...

One word: "sincentuous"

Decades before New York magazine was running its gay daddy trend stories...

Who says fraternities have to be homoerotic...?

Bringing sexy back...

So gay, they're kicking their heels up...

"A man who knew him as no women ever had..."

White lingerie not included...

They'll rape you at their summer beach house...

"The trouble with swap is where to stop!"

I want to just get on my knees and hug you, is that weird?

Don't ask, don't tell...

The most eager smile I've ever seen on a young lad...

No g-string bikini, no service...

Does riding this white horse naked make me look gay?

Serving fish...

Five bucks for a back scrub??? Deal!

Season in Sodom is a great title for a musical...

I'm breaking taboos by having threesomes with men of all different races...

How many gays does it take to measure my chest?

This one must be my favorite, not really salacious nor campy, but I actually really love it.