Various (Moyse, Arthur (Editor); Dowden, George; Kupferberg, Tuli et al.)

The Golden Convolvulus

Blackburn, Lancs, England: Screeches Publications, 1965. First Edition. Stapled Sheets. “By the standard that we set for ourself we have failed yet it is a failure in a worthwhile cause. We, and I use the pronoun in the Imperial or the collective sense depending on the sensibilities of the reader, attempted to compile an anthology of the hidden language of erotic love. To seek out from off the walls of the places of suppression, the confessionals of the public lavatories and the locked drawers the rhyme and the prose that the authorities of the Church, State and Public Opinion always seek and succeed in suppressing. For this reason we took the title of the Golden Convolvulus and that beautiful hedgerow flower like unto a celestial trumpet of white gold became the epitome of what we attempted to offer, uncontrolled beauty rejected as a weed by the ordered mind of the ordered gardener. Yet we have failed and our epitaph was written by Ken Geering, the puritan ring master of the Poet Collective, when he wrote, in his magazine Breakthru, that while he admired our courage he took a poor view of our purpose.”--Arthur Moyse, “Introduction.” Edited by Arthur Moyse (1914-2003), Anglo-Irish anarchist, artist & writer, The Golden Convolvulus is a 1965 avant-garde countercultural poetry and erotica booklet. A product of the Mimeograph Revolution, The Golden Convolvulus was published by Dave Cunliffe’s (1941-2021) Screeches Publications and embodied the “fuck you” attitude and experimental sensibilities of its milieu. A collection of erotic, experimental, abstract poetry The Golden Convolvulus is a cornucopia of sexual hedonism, rapturous lyricism about masturbation, abstract poetic compositions & provocative art. This collection includes, but is not limited to, writers like: Moyse himself, include the above quoted section of the “Introduction”; a number of poems by Charles Marshall (of whom unfortunately little is known); a handful of poems by David Cunliffe; a smattering of works by Tuli Kupferberg (1923-2010), American counterculture poet, author, singer, editorial cartoonist, comic artist, columnist, publisher, and co-founder of the rock band The Fugs; some works by Albert Meltzer (1920-1997), English anarcho-communist activist and writer; and poetry from George Dowden, influential poet & friend of the Beat Generation. A great, exceedingly rare collectible from the British literary “underground.” 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. Stapled sheets. First & presumably only printing. In relatively good-very good condition with moderate wear to fine edges, mild staining/spotting/smudging to front and back covers, heavy rusting at staples, and discoloration due to age-toning at front and back covers & throughout interior. Good-Very Good. [Item #9380]

Price: $75.00 save 10% $67.50