Sinclair, Iain (Ginsberg, Allen et al.)

The Kodak Mantra Diaries

London, England, UK: Albion Village Press, 1971. First Edition. Spiralbound. "Propositions are difficult, I don't have any completed proposition, though I've heard some. The best experience I have had has been with the younger people in America, & some of my own generation who have had to confront The Mass Hallucination, or style of consciousness, or mode of consciousness, into which we were born- & had some kind of mental breakthrough, which clarified not only the nature of our own identity (which was swept under by the Mechanical Society) but also the nature of others' identities as being the same as our own: THAT WE ARE ALL ONE. And also the nature of the entire universe perhaps as what is very perplexingly a total illusion or maya." (Allen Ginsberg, "The Best Experience," unpaginated) A document by Iain Sinclair (b. 1943), the acclaimed UK filmmaker & writer, which covers the period from October 1966- June 1971 in swinging, post-Beat psychedelic London with Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), Founding Father of the Beat Generation, at its center. Orbiting around Ginsberg or discussed by him at this time & place are everyone from William S. Burroughs, R.D. Laing, Charles Olson & many more who with him helped define that era, & well beyond. Here we offer the very scarce first manifestation of this fascinating & important work, spiral-bound sheets (appx. 5&3/4" x 16&1/4") incl. covers. With many images of Ginsberg & Co. from these locations & times at covers & throughout. Presumed first edition, first-&-only printing, though neither specified at copyright page (verso penultimate leaf), a most-unusual & desirable production. This work was re-published with additional color images & a new introduction by Tom Clark as a special issue of Beat Scene magazine in 2006 by our good friend Kevin Ring (see our many issues, unfortnately no longer including this, & other special Beat Scene Press productions). From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the legendary Unicorn Bookstore in Brighton, England for founder Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate poet, publisher & bookseller). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by WSB, 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 which is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been privileged to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining gems of Unicorn & Public House, including this. Third Mind Books proceeds to reverently curate & incrementally present the Butler-Cupidi-Unicorn-Public House Legacy that is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. A most-insightful & rewarding Ginsberg-related collectible in its extremely rare original form, with the highest & most relevant provenance. See also our item No.s 3060, 5021, 7263. In relatively fine condition with mild rubbing, age-toning, faint scratching & occasional spotting to front, back covers; slight wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same; metal spiral-binding in process of rusting with no discernable bleeding; light rubbing, age-toning & spotting to edges of text block. Interior fine with light age-toning & occasional spotting to blank inner covers esp. front cover & page leaves, the latter chiefly at blank margins/edges; tiny bumps, faint creases at esp. upper corners/edges of some leaves. Fine. [Item #8688]

Price: $100.00 save 15% $85.00