Chadwick, Helen; Mayor, David

Door to Door

Devon, England: Beau Geste Press, 1973. Limited First Edition, First Printing. Softcover. An early artist's book by David Mayor (b. 1948), co-founder of the legendary Beau Geste Press, composed in collaboration with Helen Chadwick (1953-1996), the British sculptor, photographer, and installation artist. Mayor established Beau Geste Press while studying at Exeter University in the early 1970s and did so in collaboration with the husband/wife duo, Felipe Ehrenberg (1943-2017) & Martha Hellion (b. 1937), both of whom are now also considered acclaimed artists. During this process, Mayor 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 No.s 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. Small-format softcover printed offset and letterpress: Limited First Edition, First Printing (1/250 copies produced during September 1973, per colophon). 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. In strong Near Fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear & some light bumping; a few generally mild instances of bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; similarly minute-to-moderate age-toning & other use & age-based artifacts present variously, throughout; otherwise, clean with interior unmarked. Near Fine. [Item #9390]

Price: $175.00 save 10% $157.50