COMPLETE RUN OF SUCK MAGAZINE THE FIRST EUROPEAN SEX PAPER NRS 1- 8. 1969 – 1974.

London: Joy Editions , 1969-1974.

A complete run of  8 numbers of  Suck which was promoted as “The First European Sexpaper”. First published during the height of hippidom –  Bill Levy (chief editor of IT in London), Jim Haynes, the playwright Heathcote Williams and Germaine Greer along with Fluxus artist Willem de Ridder came together to edit this breakthrough sex positive publication.

Heavily influenced by the emerging counter culture (especially that of Amsterdam) the contents are explicit and highly sexual. Certain attitudes held as radical at the time are now regarded as very taboo – even illegal – but the permissiveness of the times tended to see such positions as liberating. The “family issue” is particularly troubling.

Interestingly the involvement of Greer became an issue – as she agreed to pose naked in issue X with her legs wide akimbo as she understood the other editors were going to supply similar explicit images of themselves – however only her image was reproduced and full page at that. In issue X – she is given a right of reply and resigns from the publication editorial board because of the breaking of trust between the publishers. They add to the insult however by reproducing the photograph again next to Greer’s letter. Hippies were often pretty sexist if one scrapes the surface of “alternative life”.

SUCK Nr 1 

43.5 x 31cm, 32pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Some foxing to the extremities of the paper and minor wear.

SUCK Nr 2 

43.5 x 31cm, 24pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Includes the “Extra Amazing Erotic Puzzle” insert.  Some very minor wear – paper very faintly browned.

SUCK Nr 3 

43.5 x 31cm, 24pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Some very minor wear – paper very faintly browned near spine.

SUCK Nr 4

43.5 x 31cm, 20pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Some foxing to the extremities of the paper and minor wear.

SUCK Nr 5

43.5 x 31cm, 20pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. VG+.

LAID IN:

YOUNG LUST – a graphic comic with a sexual theme printed on beige paper. The sheet is designed to be hand folded to create a small booklet.

SUCK Nr 6 “SPECIAL FAMILY ISSUE”

43.5 x 31cm, 24pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Includes an essay by Germain Greer “I am a whore”. “VG+.

SUCK Nr 7

43.5 x 31cm, 24pp (self cover). Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Includes the nude image of Germain Greer that was published without her permission. VG+.

SUCK Nr 8

43.5 x 31cm, 28pp (self cover). The last number printed on coated paper (all others were printed on uncoated paper) Texts in English and illustrated in colours throughout. Includes the Germain Greer’s resignation letter. VG+.

Price is for all 8 numbers as a set.