Finlay, Ian Hamilton (Huntley, Gordon; Sandeman, Margot)

Rhymes for Lemons

Dunsyre, Scotland: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1970. Limited First Edition. Linked Folded Sheets. Signed by Ian Hamilton Finlay. A volume of “poems” (sparse rhymes about boats and the sea) produced by Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006), a legendary poet who was born the Bahamas and is affiliated with Concrete Poetry & his pioneering literary magazine, Poor. Old. Tired. Horse. POTH was published by the Wild Hawthorne Press, which was founded & helmed by Finlay & is widely considered a major avant-garde press and champion of concrete poetry throughout the world. As the work’s de facto title page indicates, the writing is by one Gordon Huntley, and the illustrations are by Margot Sandeman (1922-2009), a Scottish painter and longtime collaborator of Ian Hamilton Finlay’s. Therefore, the “by Ian Hamilton Finlay” notation is more accurately a “Ian Hamilton Finlay presents…” -type notation, or something along those lines. A deeply unique Wild Hawthorn production with distinguished provenance. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item no.s 8217, 8366). After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House Bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining treasures of Unicorn & Public House, some of which have become the stuff of myth. Oblong chapbook in uncut, illustrated, linked folded sheets: one “of an edition of 300 copies / printed for the Wild Hawthorne Press / this is copy 47 [limitation written in thin, black ink].” This copy is additionally signed by Finlay beneath the colophon quoted above. IHF’s signature, in the same thin, black pen ink as the limitation, reads: “Ian Hamilton Finlay.” In relatively very fine condition with only slightest shelf-wear to fine-edges and corners, slight rubbing, bumping, & minute-to-moderate age-toning throughout; otherwise generally clean. Very Fine. [Item #8502]

Price: $125.00