Dortmund: Das Museum am Ostwell, 1985 16.2 x 10.4cm, 2pp black on white announcement card for an exhibition of objects and multiples from the Feelisch Collection. A portrait of Beuys on the front is signed in red felt tipped pen by Beuys and rubber stamped in blue with a free International University impression. On the reverse a short text in German about the show and thee editions. VG+. ...
Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
48.5 x 32.5cm, green on cream paper offset lithograph with two drawings by Hincks one above each other. The first is after a landscape Johan Christian Reinhart etched in Rome in 1811. The second is with Finlay's addition of the word "W AVE" on the stone opening for the spring. In the Reinhart original the word in Greek `"XAIPE " means Hail or Farewell and Finlay notes that as being in relation to death. The AVE part of Finlay's text is the Latin equivalent to XAIPE but with the addition of the W (a little distance from the rest of the lettering) then the meaning is altered to that of water.
This was one of only 250 such prints made. In VG condition in like folder.
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Sydney: Art Gallery of New South Wales, 1985)
30 x 21cm, 160pp plus card covers. Exhibition catalogue for an Australian travelling exhibition of British art. Finlay has 4pp of text and works as well as one of his sundials as frontispiece. VG+.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
25 x 29cm, black on green folder lithograph in folder content of two lithographs after drawings by Michael Harvey of the proposed stone gateway and a textual explanation thus: 'Implicit in the column is the natural tree, which was likewise inhabited by its nymph or dryad. Here, in place of the column, there is the pilaster, and the dryads are present in the 'distanced' form of the text derived from J.K.Lavater's 'Physiognomical Fragments' (1802). The design is based on that for a garden gateway by the Elizabethan architect Indigo Jones."
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Heidelberg: Edition Staeck, 1985>BR>
23 x 18.3cm, 1pp. Unused oversized cardboard cover for the Beuys postcard edition. This example signed and stamped (FIU) in pencil and blue ink by Beuys. Fine.
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Paris: Gallimard, 1925/1985
23.5 x 18.5cm, 84pp. Original wrappers. The first edition of this collection of texts by the poet issued in an edition of 850 copies by Byars’ favourite publisher. An uncut copy but pages are browned. One the first page Byars has appropriated the book by adding the text “I GIVE YOU GENIUS AGAIN!” in red ink in his starry hand. VG. Unique thus.
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Peninsula: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
50 x 40cm, silver gelatine print. The photograph of the stream by Robin Gillanders is combined with a short poem by Finlay.
the brown stream
the black stream
the blue stream
the silver stream
The same phrase is repeated with only the colour changing each time. Gillander's photograph is in b/w so one might imagine it in different colours as per the poem - and the water having a different history each time - silver being related to fish or speed, blue in reflections or the sea, black from coal or dirt or darkness and brown from pollution or soil.
This edition is from a portfolio called ‘Dear Stieglitz,’ named in homage to Alfred Stieglitz, the photographer and gallery owner who published the art-photography journal ‘Camera Work’ in the early Twentieth century.
On the reverse is a label with details of the portfolio and image and it is signed by Finlay and numbered in pencil from the edition of only 35 copies. VG+.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
10.2 x 24.6cm, 1pp red on white card. The text reads: "FEWER SCULPTURES! MORE STATUES! LIVE AMMUNITION IN COMMUNITY ARTS!"
Clearly a provocation in response to events and Finlay's turning to opposing the council and his other enemies with verbal aggressions. VG+.
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NYC: n.p., 1985
5 x 5cm, colour transparency with an image of the Boltanski installation "Monument" from 1985. Handwritten legend on the plastic - a slide provided by a gallery to press or clients. VG+.
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40.5 x 30.5cm, b/w silver gelatine original photograph of Finlay in front of one of his French revolution inspired sculpture "TERROR IS THE PIETY OF THE REVOLUTION". This was the portrait of Finlay taken by Christopher Barker for his book on British Poets. The correspondence between Finlay and Barker arranging the photo-shoot (Finlay agreed but did not enjoy the experience) is online on this site in the letters section. Sadly this print has a big paper lack bottom right on it but thankfully what is lost is a bit of the stonewall work. else Vg. Probably not unique but not many printed at the time.
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Heidelberg: Edition Staeck, 1985 10.5 x 15cm, 2pp artist's postcard with a reproduced photograph by Zoa (Brigitte Muller-Fehn) showing Beuy's Kassel 1982 action when he melted down a golden crown (representative of the old order) and transformed it into a golden hare and a sun sphere. The resultant sculpture was later sold to raise funds for the 7,000 Oaks project. The front of the card has a gold foil stamping on it also. Issued as part of the Originalgrafik Series D. VG+. ...
Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
5.8 x 20.5cm, 1pp card printed black and red on cream with a drawing of a machine gun by Ron Costley which has holes in the barrel (to prevent over heating). Finlay has used this motif in prints and elsewhere to reflect the pan-pipes of the god Apollo.
Additional are several epigrams from the poet's "More Detached Sentences" (on gardening) and a note: "Owing to practical necessities of Little Sparta's War with Strathclyde Region, the Garden and Garden Temple are presently closed to the public. The provisional government of Little Sparta is revolutionary until the peace.".
This card is dated 1986 in both the flawed Murray Catalogue Raisonne and the Wild Hawthorn Press' own online listing of artist's cards - it is however clearly 1985 - not only printed on the card but additionally this example is hand addressed by Finlay to Harry Warschauer (and with a red rubber stamp impression - STRATHCLYDE REGION DER UNTERGANG DES ABENDLANDES) and the franking to the stamp is clearly dated "5 June 1985". We have restored this item to the correct date in this catalogue. VG+.
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