Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1977
15 x 10.4cm, 2pp. A drawing by Michael Harvey of a gravestone with the title German text - Beware! Mines - and a skull and crossbones motif, it is covered in snow. This is a reference to the German attack on Russia which stumbled badly due to poor supply but also because of the vicious Russian weather. Much like Napolean's army before them, many died due to the cold conditions as they retreated back to their homelands. VG+.
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Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1977
12 x 9cm, 1pp. A list of seven painters are shown on a "in Memoriam" card. The first five of those named have had their Christian names changed to "Robert" whereas the last two - Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde - have retained their real names ie Robert.
Finlay had met Colquhoun and Macbryde at Glasgow School of Art during the 40s at a time when they were the most feted of Scottish artists. Sadly both died early in the 60s (within 3 years of each other) - they were lovers - and were known by most as "The Two Roberts". By extending the roll call of "Roberts" Finlay is in some way placing his two acquaintances in the pantheon that includes Masson, Picabia, Ozenfant, Schwitters and Metzinger. VG+.
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Bologna: Galleria comunale d'art moderna di Bologna, 1977
20 x 20cm, 16pp plus wrappers. Exhibition catalogue for a worldwide survey visual poetry show with works from Anceschi, Andrafe, Boso, Caraballo, Herman, Ogaz, Oswald Weiner, Zabala, Viola, Setsuko and others as well as Finlay collaborating with Maxwell Allan alongside Bob Cobbing, John Furnival, Lillane Lyn, David Mayor and Alan Ridell from Britain. Curated by Giuliano Della Casa and Alessandro Serra. Finlay's work is not illustrated not mentioned in the catalogue essay by Adriano Spatola.
JOINT:
Bologna: Galleria comunale d'art moderna di Bologna, 1977
20 x 20cm, 1pp typographic announcement leaflet with Finlay being the only British artist mentioned in the leaflet. VG+.
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33 x 20.5cm, 1pp xerox copy of a letter sent by Ian Hamilton Finlay to his friend and collaborator Rod Gathercole relating to a set of epigrams Finlay called Persiflages. The letter notes some examples (not all eventually used) such as "My favourite flowers are leaves.". The letter also points to Finlay supplying outline sketches for drawings. The book was later published with drawings by Gathercole. VG.
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Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1977
10.5 x 15.6cm, 2pp. A photograph by Carl Heideken of a Oerlikon cannon below which the word LYRE has been added by Finlay. On the reverse of the card there is a quotation from Jean Cocteau "With us, there is a house, a lamp, a plate of soup, a fire, wine and pipes art the back of every important work of art."
Visually the cannon's ammunition looks like the strings of a harp (lyre) so Finlay sees a visual correspondence between the gun and the musical instrument (both also make noise) and by adding the quote he is also suggesting that art may well be violent as well as based on the homely values of Cocteau. VG+>
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Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1976
25 x 55cm offset lithograph in green and black on off white paper. A drawing by John Borg Manduca is printed in green and has elements of camouflage - hence Finlay's question: "Are Aircraft Carriers Urban or Rural?" makes sense as the huge vessel looks like greenery in the countryside. elsewhere Finlay has taken up this theme with a different print called "Topiary Aircraft Carrier".Murray has this as 5.56. VG+ condition.
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Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1976
15 x 10.5cm, 2pp. A photograph by Dave Paterson of an installation of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Sundial and an explanatory text below to explain the work in metaphysical and classical terms. VG+.
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Dunsyre, : Wild Hawthorn Press, 1976
12 x 11cm,28pp plus card wrappers and printed blue dust jacket. Artist's book displaying two b/w photogrpahs of sculptural works in stone (both war planes) by John Andrews and nine poems by Finlay including:
UNTITLED
after Aram Saroyan
LOTS
lots
Aram Saroyan is an American minimalist poet. The word LOTS plays in opposition to the form. Finlay's poem hints at the complexity found in Saroyan's poems despite their (relative) lack of words or even letters.
This is one of 350 signed and numbered copies. VG+.
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Toronto: Couch House Press, 1976
19.6 x 20.2cm , 60pp plus blue card covers. An A-Z of pictures of Finlay's model boats, airplanes, weapons and kites by Paterson along with an alphabet - B is "Battle fleets are like families" shows a number of warships placed in size order like a bad family portrait. Not all of the texts are poetic - some simply describe the toys.
One of 1,000 copies printed this example is VG+.
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Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1976
15 x 10cm, 1pp. A line drawing by Laurie Clark of a ship steering towards the viewer with its name on the prow: it can be seen to be a model because of the large faucet to be found in the background.
Finlay was fond of making and playing with toy boats from early in his career. VG+.
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Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1976
11.3 x 16.6cm, 1pp. A photograph by Carl Heideken shows an actual chocolate soldier marching while carrying a heavy gun. Finlay equates this to the German Panzergrenadier who were the basic troops of the Panzergrenadiertruppe, their uniforms were often brown, famously the enlisted men were given chocolate bars (Scho-Ka-Kola) as part of their "Front Fighting Packages" when supplies arrived.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1986
29.6 × 50.4cm, blue-grey on white silkscreen with a reproduced painting by John Borg Manduca of an aircraft carrier seen from a vantage point of the sea level which makes its size seem vast. There is also enclosing a separate sheet of tracing paper bearing the colophon information and Finlay's handwritten signature in ink.
The full quotation: ‘At the field's edge, on the vertiginous cliff-top, stood a solitary hut’ and clearly describes the greatness of such a vessel. We are not clear on the origin of the quote - please do let us know if you can identify it.
One of 300 signed and numbered copies. VG.
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