Retro Action, October 21, 1992 : Madonna's Book Tops Charts, Coffee Tables

Madonna and photographer Steven Meisel arrive at the party for the publication of Madonna's book 'Sex' on October 15, 1992 at Industria Superstudio in New York City, New York. (Photo: Getty Images)

No wonder it's called show business.

Way back in the early '90s — before Kaballah, Guy Ritchie, and scary Linda Hamilton arms — Madonna was making headlines around the world for the release of her revealing tome, Sex.

The coffee table book, featuring the pop icon in various simulated sexual poses, was timed to be released along with her Erotica album.

Despite numerous complaints and negative reviews, the book sold 150,000 copies on its first day. Three days later, all 1.5 million copies of the first edition were sold out across the world.

According to the American Library Association, Sex was the 19th-most challenged book or series in libraries in the 1990s. In Japan, it was banned after just a week of being on sale.

Today, an unopened copy can fetch as much as $120.

SOURCE: http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/10/20/retro-action-october-21-1992-madonnas-sex-book-hits-the-shelves