KITE. WILLING WINGS. 1971. SIGNED WITH NOTE (BUT INK HAS RUN DUE TO DAMP)

Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1971
12.5 x 9.1cm, 4pp. Artist’s card with a photographic image of a kite on the front. Internally the text reads: “Willing Wings. A Wild Hawthorn kite sets off on a leaflet raid, it’s target The Arts Council of Great Britain, or possibly Fulcrum Press. New Year, 1971.”
The kite – one of Finlay’s handmade toys – is here weaponised. Finlay by 1971 had fallen out with the Arts Council and also the Fulcrum Press (over the production of the fifth edition of The Dancers Inherit the Party” which they had published claiming it was the first edition. This is the first card published by Finlay with an intent of attacking his enemies.

This example of the card has a handwritten note at the bottom of the inside of the card by Finlay but has been water damaged and the ink has run but the signature is still easily read. There is also a red mark on the front as it seems to have come from the postal experience through the envelope. Else Vg.