Ehrenberg, Felipe

A Testimonial of Hostage Objects: One Day Retrospection

Amsterdam, NL: Fignal, 1972. Limited First Edition, First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. Signed by Felipe Ehrenberg. A chapbook of highly experimental, Conceptual Art poems by Felipe Ehrenberg (1943-2017), one part of the post-DADA art group and publishing collective, Beau Geste Press. For those that don’t know, the “beau geste” in Beau Geste Press refers to an act of anarchist terrorism (the bombing of the Café Terminus in Paris in 1894) and translates, literally to “beautiful gesture.” For these reasons, the publishers of Beau Geste Press chose the title to allude to their political and activist leanings. With his wife, Martha Hellion (b. 1937), Ehrenberg became a central figure in the international Fluxus movement. Operating from a farmhouse in Devon, England, Beau Geste Press printed the work of visual poets, neo-Dadaists, and international artists affiliated with Fluxus, keeping all stages of the book-making process from design and printing to distribution under one roof. This publication, along with a few other publications on the Third Mind Books site, including TMB Item Nos. 8882, 8824, & 9238, are representative of their commitments to experimentalism in life, art, & publishing. A classic, ultra-rare publication from a legendary UK small press outfit. 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 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 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 which is in our custodial hands- until it passes to yours. Chapbook in stapled wrappers: Limited First Edition, First Printing (“This edition of 100 copies was printed by Beau / Gest Press, Langford Court South; Cullompton, / Devon, for FIGNAL, in Amsterdam”), as stated on copyright page. This copy is additionally signed by the poet on verso of final page/FFEP. Ehrenberg’s signature, in thin, black, felt pen ink, reads: “Felipe Ehrenberg.” In Fair-Good condition with light-to-moderate shelf-wear, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers; mild-to-moderate rubbing; moderate-to-enunciated age-toning (yellowing, spotting, staining & artifacts similar) present, variously throughout; minute-to-moderate rusting & bleeding to staples at exterior and interior; otherwise, generally clean. Fair-Good. [Item #9334]

Price: $300.00 save 10% $270.00