Little Sparta: Finlay, n.d. (c. 1982)
Standard hand addressed DL manilla postal envelope to Harry Warschauer. Notable for the black rubber stamp impression added by Finlay to the front: "ROCKY ITHAKA". Return address stamping on back. Slightly roughly opened.
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Little Sparta: Finlay, franked: November 1982)
Standard hand addressed DL manilla postal envelope to Harry Warschauer. Notable for the black rubber stamp impression added by Finlay to the front: "STRATHCLYDE REGION FOR NACHT UND NEBEL" and cinderella stamp showing Joseph Stalin and the words "Strathclyde Region". The mailing process has franked the cinderella stamp! . Return address stamping on back. Slightly roughly opened.
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NYC: John GIbson Gallery, 1982
10.3 x 15.3cm, 1pp typographical invitation card reproduced from a hand-written text (by John Gibson who often used his left hand as here and wrote the text upside down to create an unusual effect) for the exhibition "Felt Multiple". VG+.
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Little Sparta: Finlay, 1982
30 x 21cm, 2pp vintage xerox copy (on yellow paper) of a letter sent by Finlay to the then Minister of the Arts.
As often from Finlay bitterly biting letter to the Minister firstly complaining that he did not reply to letters. FInlay complains that the legally instituted Scottish Arts Council refuse to advise Strathclyde Region whether Finlay's disputed building is a temple or not.
Finlay notes that the SAC suggested that a committee should perhaps run Little Sparta rather than Finlay - Finlay in turn here suggests that "We, for our part, are entirely willing to declare ourselves a committee and run the SAC."
Finlay says that he does not expect a response to this letter but just wants to put on record his opposition to a proposed meeting between the region and the SAC. He also noted that the SAC refuses to talk to him unless through a solicitor because he had previously complained to the Arts Minister about their behaviour.
Finally Finlay writes: "The state is one of total stupidity and total complacency. The need is for a Revolution."
A copy of the original circulated to friends for the purpose of information as was Finlay's habit at this time.
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Little Sparta: Finlay, 1982
30 x 21cm, 2pp vintage xerox copy (on yellow paper) of a letter sent by Finlay to Alexander Walker, Strathclyde region's Sheriff Officer.
A bitterly sarcastic letter to Walker liking the latter's threat of a Warrant Sale to a nuclear threat and suggesting that they were determined to get their money by a "kind of extortion with menaces".
Finlay accuses him of cowardice - running away when it was clear there was more than "six sad Scotch standing by a nasty, brutish, short auction".
Finlay after much further and witty opprobrium towards the poor bureaucrat, argues that the law is being abused, that it's application is flexible and could easily be stopped if the Region wanted and hinting at wanting a reconciliation (which given the abuse in the letter seems hardly likely to be agreed upon.)
A copy of the original circulated to friends for the purpose of information as was Finlay's habit at this time.
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NYC: John Gibson Gallery, 1982
10.5 x 15cm, 2pp. Announcement card with a b/w image of three Beuys' felt suits on the front. A unmailed example. VG+.
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Otterlo: Kroller Muller Museum, 1982
30 x 21cm, 1pp vintage xerox copy of a letter sent from the Director of the Kroller Muller Museum expressing support for Finlay after the issue of a warrant for the arrestment of works of art from Little Sparta. The Director indicates that he thinks such a sale will "endanger the existence" of Finlay's garden and calls on the garden to be "kept and protected as (Finlay's major opus".
The letter offers support by the purchase of a work to a maximum of £2000.
Circulated to friends of Little Sparta and the press as part of Finlay's PR campaign against the Regional Council.
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Fabriano, Galleria La Virgola, 1982 21 x 15cm., 2pp announcement card for an exhibition of works, multiples and graphics under the heading of the Difesa della natura" (defence of nature) which Beuys regularly used as a slogan to cover his work in Italy where he increasingly tried to stress the need for a less industrial form of farming and production. Front of the card has a portrait of Beuys in b/w by Buby Durini taken from behind while Beuys is in long fur coat and hat looking at the landscape. VG+. ...
Little Sparta: Finlay, n.d. (c. 1982)
Standard hand addressed DL manilla postal envelope to Harry Warschauer. Notable for the black rubber stamp impression added by Finlay to the front: "STRATHCLYDE REGION FOR NACHT-UND-NEBEL" and also a 3 x 2cm, b/w cinderella postal stamp designed by Finlay with an image of Joseph Stalin with the words "Strathclyde region" above and below and a fictitious price of 15p. Return address stamping on back. Slightly roughly opened. Interestingly the postal service has cancelled the cinderella stamps as well as the authentic stamp.
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25 x 20cm, original TLS on Little Sparta stationery dated 16.10.82.
A letter sent by Ian Hamilton Finlay to "Harry" - presumably Harry Warschamer - telling the latter about the Warrant Sale planned at Little Sparta by Strathclyde Region to recoup their claimed rates on November 2nd 1982.
The letter asks for Warschamer to come and "bring others if you can" presumably to help resist the sale.
The letter also tells of the first "ALL-LATIN, ALL ROMAN LETTERING DEMO" by the Saint-Just Vigilanties outside the Scottish Arts Council HQ on October 19th.
Finlay also claims that all of his calls are "being monitored by the Special Branch" and "by Wednesday we may all be in prIson."
The letter is signed in blue ink "Ian".
The letterhead here is worth notice; it has at the bottom the motto: "SPARTA LONGA, LETTUCE BREVIS" which roughly is "Sparta is long, lettuce is short". Finlay's farm was called "Little Sparta".
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Berlin: Vergolderei Kunsthandlung Silvia Menzel, 1982
15 x 10.5cm, 4pp - reflective gold on white announcement card for the edition and sculptural work by Beuys. This card is signed over the double leaf outside in pencil by Beuys. VG+.
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Little Sparta: Finlay, 1982
Standard hand addressed postal envelope to Harry Warschaver franked 9th October 1982. Notable for the black rubber stamp impression added by Finlay to the front: "Strathclyde Region for Nacht-und-Nebel" trans Strathclyde Region for Night and Fog. Return address stamping on back. Cleanly opened.
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