Finlay, Ian Hamilton

Futura 7: 5 Poems

Stuttgart, Germany: Edition Hansjorg Mayer, 1966. First Edition. Folded Single Sheet. Today’s offering, published by Hansjorg Mayer’s (concrete poetry champion, artist &publisher), long-running mimeograph/letter press publishing company Edition Hansjorg Mayer, Futura 7 is the seventh in the poetic broadside series futura. This particular issue, featuring five poems by Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006), Scottish poet, writer & artist is, like most of the futura issues, a masterful example of concrete poetry. Finlay’s first collections of writing include The Sea Bed and Other Stories (1958) and the poetry collection The Dancers Inherit the Party (1960). Finlay’s work began to be noticed by American poets such as Robert Creeley (1926-2005), Robert Duncan (1919-1988), and Lorine Niedecker (1903-1970)—all of whom Finlay would publish in the magazine Poor. Old. Tired. Horse. (P.O.T.H.) Finlay also published Niedecker’s second book with Wild Hawthorn Press, the press he founded with Jessie McGuffie in 1961. Finlay’s raw, grounded, a-symmetrical composition style is not only classically concrete poetry, but also gives his works an exciting, very interesting aura. A truly unique & exceedingly rare collectible! 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. Folded Broadside (16 x 24 cm, which unfolds to 64 x 48 cm ). First & presumably only printing. In relatively very fine condition with minor wear to fine edges, slight discoloration due to age-toning, and a number of pronounced creases at folds. Very Fine. [Item #9386]

Price: $80.00 save 10% $72.00