Cotter, Robert (Sinclair, John)

Original Newspaper Clipping: "Would-Be School Teacher Defends Marijuana Habit" (Detroit Free Press, August 18, 1965- five copies + six copies of page heading)

Detroit, MI: Detroit Free Press, 1965. First Edition. Single Sheets. "A bearded Wayne State University student arrested with six others in a narcotics raid at his apartment, told police Tuesday he sees nothing wrong with smoking marijuana." Thus begins this article in the Detroit Free Press edition of August 18, 1965 written by Staff Writer Robert Cotter, concerning an incident the previous day. The "Bearded WSU student" was John Sinclair (1941-2024), who had founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop the previous year & would go on to major notoriety as poet, music enthusiast, educator & countercultural activist- & is now a Cult Immortal. Smug, jaded masses of the counterculture-turned-mainstream take heed: Here is an exemplar of the now-unimaginable consequences that your forefathers were subjected to & ultimately prevailed against so that you can take it all for granted! Indeed, this incident in which Sinclair, one "William C. Wilson" & five others unnamed, were "Arrested In Dope Raid" (sub-heading) portends the far-worse situation some four years later that would land Sinclair in prison as a Marijuana Martyr. Read this article in its brief entirety (see image) for full impact, & to see a great image of the young Sinclair whom we knew as the worn-but-lighted aged Eminence when he graced us with a performance at one of our earliest events during 2022, among his last public appearances. We here offer five clipped copies of this article, along with six oblong clippings of the page-heading ("Detroit Free Press/ Wednesday, August 18, 1965 The Second Front Page Page 3, Section A"). From the collection of Robin Eichele (b. 1941), the noted American poet who co-founded the Detroit Artists' Workshop with Sinclair in 1964, & is our dear nearby friend. An important piece of Sinclair-countercultural ephemera in its singular contemporary form, nicely multiplied for the devoted collector. All clippings in relatively quite very fine condition, neatly clipped & with only inevitable mild-to-moderate age-toning to all surfaces, very slight edgewear. Very Fine. [Item #8374]

Price: $75.00