Various (Mills, Brian (Editor) et al.)

The Dreamer No. 5 (August 1970)

Derby, England, UK: The Dreamer, 1970. First Edition. Folded Sheets. Signed by Brian Mills. This is the fifth number of the Dada-Surrealism-inspired literary/collage-art journal edited & published by Brian Mills (possibly the acclaimed British television director (1933-2006) whose background was in the arts). With hand-colored front cover image, & vintage circa-Victorian era collaged images and texts throughout. The juxtapositioning & mixture of disparate images & texts were practiced by Mills' predecessors in the Dadaist & Surrealist movements including Max Ernst et al., & were a precursor to William S. Burroughs' cut-up works. This issue's artwork and poetry are themed around a dollhouse and children's toys. Loose sheets folded vertically, one of 100 copies hand-numbered & signed in black ink by Mills at lower rear cover colophon, this is copy No. 50/100. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who was the manager of the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England founded by Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate poet, bookseller & publisher). 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 now also 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. This issue is the fifth of a complete run of the short-lived but legendary series of The Dreamer. The first six issues are included in this group of new arrivals (see item No.s 8922, 8926, 8928, 8930, 8932); the remaining issues will be presented in a future group. A delicately beautiful production; a most-scarce & influential collectible in its singularly rarest contemporary form with the most distinguished & relevant provenance. In relatively fine-to-very-fine condition with mild bumping to the fine edges and corners; mild creasing to top edge of back cover; and very mild spotting to back cover. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8924]

Price: $50.00