N.p. (Dayton, OH): Canal Street Tavern, 1983 28 x 21.5cm, 1pp black on white small poster with a design by the artist for a show of videos of rock bands which include the Woodstock Festival, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Loving Spoonful, Mitch Ryder and Young Rascals. VG....
Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1983)
21 x 29.5 cm, 1pp offset lithograph printed red and black on cream paper each with a text by Finlay:
TERROR IS THE PIETY OF THE REVOLUTION.
VG+.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1996)
A portfolio of three 25 x 20cm, 4pp offset lithographs - the paper colour of each being important to the meaning of the work.
The first sheet opens to read "Watteau's clown" and is on beige paper.
The second sheet opens to read "Picasso's acrobats" and is on light blue paper.
The third sheet opens to read "The wind shadow cast by this blue sail" and is on dark blue paper.
The three reference paintings and the dominant colour of the pallet....
Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1983
18.4 × 20.3cm, 1pp, black and red on white card. The quotation from Saint-Just is presented as if they had been carved in separate stones and there is an instruction "Cut around outlines. Arrange words in order." - reflecting the way that the quotation suggests change is inevitable and that causality requires some degree of chaos. The drawing is by Nicholas Sloan.
This work is also found at Little Sparta as one of the largest of the installations to be found there - with the text actually carved into large stones on moorland. VG+.
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30 x 21cm, 1pp original carbon copy on typing paper.
A copy of a letter sent by Finlay to the J. N. Young, Assistant Director of Finance for Strathclyde Region.
The letter informs Mr Young that much like the way Strathclyde Region had demanded proof of ownership of any works taken from Little Sparta if they were to be returned on the basis that they were not entirely Finlay's property, that he, Finlay, will now apply the same logic to "any of your property" should he "happen to find himself in possession of it.".
Finlay then wrote "Some might think that the Region has not only engaged in theft but is proposing a kind of Instant Abolition of all Property - no doubt an enlightened policy but is it one which is to be expected from Stalinist Populists?"
A hilarious letter with copies sent to most members of the Saint-Just Vigilantes.
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Gelsenkirchen, Free International University - FIU, 1982 14.8 x 10.4cm, 2pp - artist's postcard designed by Johannes Stuettgen for the Green Party in Germany. The Greens took part in elections in the Federal Republic of Germany on March 6, 1983 and for the first time the Greens managed to elect their own supporters to parliament. Beuys was one of the founders of the German Green Party and used his popularity to garner support for the group as here. The signature on the card is printed. VG+. ...
Dunsyre/Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, (1983)
7.8 x 8.2cm outer folder content of eight 7.8 x 8.2cmm 1pp cards. Each of seven cards (the eighth is a colophon) suggests single word changes to lines from Ovid's Metamorphoses to alter the meaning of the line and a drawing by Gary Hincks. As often Finlay enjoys the effects of minimal changes to cause maximum effect. Arguably a colleciton of artist's postcards but the cards could not stand alone so we agree this is categorised as an artist's book. VG+
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17.7 x 12.7cm, b/w vintage silver gelatine print displaying one works hanging in the artist's studio - part of his Grotesques series where figurative sculpture were made from bits of wood and discarded items such as buttons and photographed. On the reverse is a label indicating the title and the date of the photograph. Photographer unknown.
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17.7 x 12.7cm, b/w vintage silver gelatine print displaying three works hanging in the artist's studio - part of his Grotesques series where figurative sculpture were made from bits of wood and discarded items such as buttons and photographed. On the reverse is a label indicating the title and the dates of the photographs (the two left and right being 1982 and the one in the centre (Composition enchantee) from 1982. Photographer unknown.
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12.7 x 17.7cm, b/w vintage silver gelatine print displaying four works hanging in the artist's studio - part of his Grotesques series where figurative sculpture were made from bits of wood and discarded items such as buttons and photographed. Some handwriting on reverse for use in reproduction including date and title. Photographer unknown.
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17.7 x 12.7cm, b/w vintage silver gelatine print displaying three works hanging in the artist's studio - part of his Grotesques series where figurative sculpture were made from bits of wood and rubbish and photographed. Label attached on the reverse with details. Photographer unknown.
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Littel Sparta: Finlay, 6th February 1983
30 x 21cm, original xerox copy of a statement quoting the text of a telegram sent by Ian Hamilton Finlay to the Chief Executive of Strathclyde Region. The text reads:
LITTLE SPARTA 6 2 83 1400 HOURS STOP LITTLE SPARTA ACKNOWLEDGES MESSAGES OF SUPPORT RECEIVED DURING FRIDAY'S SUCCESSFUL BATTLE INCLUDING TELEGRAMS FROM LONDON PARIS BERLIN STOP LS OFFERS IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL DEFENCES IN EXCHANGE DISCUSSIONS WITH STRATHCLYDE REGION STOP LS ALLOWS DISCUSSIONS TAKE PLACE UNDER TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LS SR AND SAC STOP.
A proposal for the Scottish Arts Council to help mediate a solution to the dispute between the Region and FInlay. Later Finlay would feel the SAC had betrayed him (and art) by refusing to take a stance.
A the bottom of this leaflet is the text "FERME ORNEE ARMOURED TANK" and a rare (reproduced) drawing by Finlay of a haystack with a stick protruding from it (to look like a tank).
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