24.5 x 21cm, xerox copy of original typescript with pasted on reproduction of the artist''s signature.
This appears to be a paste up for later reproduction of the two original "1 one-line poems" sent by Finlay o be included in an anthology of poetry - namely, Classical Warfare and Classical biography.
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Little Sparta: Finlay, 1985
Standard C5 white postal envelope to Christopher Barker - the franking cannot be read but probably December 1985. Notable for the red rubber stamp impression added by Finlay to the front: "STRATHCLYDE REGION HAS ABOLISHED LANGUAGE - ABOLISH STRATHCLYDE REGION". Return address stamping on back. A little roughly opened and slightly grubby. .
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30 x 21cm, hand typed letter on printed letterhead paper.
A letter sent by Finlay to Christopher Barker containing two original "1 one-line poems". These were sent to be included in an anthology of poetry and photographs edited by the latter.
The first is thus:
Classical Warfare
The capital fell to an enemy column
which is a wonderful joke based on the parts of Greek columns as well as a cold statement about defeat in war.
The second is:
CLassical biography
No man is a hero to his valley.
Both are from "Monostichs de la Guerre de Petite-Sparta" a publication we have not yet seen under that title (which references the Littlle Spara Wars).
The letter is signed in black in at the bottom by Finlay in full.
The stationery as ever with Finlay is amusing in itself - the text under the address reads "Neo-classical Flutings, Columns & Small Arms,/Groves & Emplacements, Sacred & Profane" in red. At the bottom there is a quote from Tibullus about the efforts of bees.
An important and document with perhaps unique content.
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30 x 21cm, hand typed letter on printed letterhead paper.
A letter sent by Finlay to Christopher Barker dated 17.12.85
The letter notes the enclosure of a contribution from Finlay to an anthology - the actual enclosure is to be found here in this section. This letter notes that an alternative offering might be made if Barker asks but Finlay would prefer those. Finlay clearly knows Barker as he note the enclosure also of a "very small Christmas Box, of a neoclassical nature, for your Mother."
The letter is signed in full in black ink with a PS "that underlined words in the manuscript are to be italicised".
The same stationery design as used in the contribution is here but printed in green.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
9.4 x 20.4cm, 4pp card with two poems - one by Luois Zukofsky which was printed in POTH 6:
The
desire
of
towing
Conjoined with Finlay's
The
attire
of
snowing
The first refers to a barge being pulled along and the forces creating a desire to be somewhere else, the latter is a description of snow covering everything after a fall.
This example has a hand written Christmas greeting from Finlay on the left side of the inner card. VG+.
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Little Sparta: Finlay, 1985
Standard hand addressed DL manilla postal envelope to Christopher Barker franked 27th November 1985. Notable for the blue rubber stamp impression added by Finlay to the front: "LITTLE SPARTA IS A LUCID MOMENT IN STRATHCLYDE REGION". Return address stamping on back. Cleanly opened.
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30 x 21cm, hand typed letter on printed letterhead paper.
A letter sent by Finlay to Christopher Barker dated 26.11.85
The letter agrees to the poet's photograph to be taken by Barker for a book in response to the latter's letter (see below) asking for a session. Finlay as ever is funny - he claims that "Like Plotinus I hate to be photographed" and that "I don't expect it will take any longer than having a tooth pulled."
Signed in full in black ink by Finlay at the end.
JOINT WITH:
Original typed letter (unsigned) from Christopher Barker to Finlay dated 6.11.85 requesting to be allowed to visit Little Sparta and so to include Finlay in a book of photographs of British poets planned for publication and asking for one poem to also be included in the book. Blue printed stationery.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
42 x 29.5cm, red on white satin paper offset lithograph with a text in French after Saint-Just and his comrade in arms Lebas who had been sent to Stranbourg in 1794 by Robesprierre to end local disputes in the city that had come to violence. This was part of a general move on the Committe for Public Safety to rein in the actions of the many Representatives on Mission who had overstepped their perceived powers and gain central control of the country. The proclamation (on 25 Brumaire, 1794) tells citizens of Strasbourg to stop acting like Germans as their hearts are French. By accounts Saint-Just and Labas took the side of the city merchants over that of agitators from outside (presumably regarded as more "German") and capturing the latter's leader Euloge Schneider sent him back to Paris to meet the guillotine (again: as they had publicly displayed him tied up in front of a the local version for a day) but now for the last time .Brumaire was the second month of the revolutionary calendar and its symbol was fog. Ultimately the Coup of 18 Brumaire brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France and in the view of most historians ended the French Revolution.
There were two colour variants of this print - this is the blue one, the red is also in this collection.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
42 x 29.5cm, red on white satin paper offset lithograph with a text in French after Saint-Just and his comrade in arms Lebas who had been sent to Stranbourg in 1794 by Robesprierre to end local disputes in the city that had come to violence. This was part of a general move on the Committe for Public Safety to rein in the actions of the many Representatives on Mission who had overstepped their perceived powers and gain central control of the country. The proclamation (on 25 Brumaire, 1794) tells citizens of Strasbourg to stop acting like Germans as their hearts are French. By accounts Saint-Just and Labas took the side of the city merchants over that of agitators from outside (presumably regarded as more "German") and capturing the latter's leader Euloge Schneider sent him back to Paris to meet the guillotine (again: as they had publicly displayed him tied up in front of a the local version for a day) but now for the last time .Brumaire was the second month of the revolutionary calendar and its symbol was fog. Ultimately the Coup of 18 Brumaire brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France and in the view of most historians ended the French Revolution.
There were two colour variants of this print - this is the red one, the blue is also in this collection.
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Edinburgh: Reaktion Books, 1985
21 x 15cm, 4pp. Black on white offset lithographic subscription leaflet for the extensive monograph on Finlay by Abrioux. Two b/w images of a sundial and the front garden. VG+.
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Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
5.1 x 7.2 cm, 8pp concertina card printed red on white and on both sides of the card. On both sides is the same line: "WINDMILLS WINDING WATERS" one word per section, clearly one is to read the lines as having two different meanings.
The first is a description of the landscape the windmill is set in, the second is the wind caused by the rotating (winding) sails. VG+.
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Firenze: Exempla/Exit Lugo 1985
8.9 x 31.7cm, 28pp (printed recto only) and printed white wrappers with printed dustjacket.
Artist's book with 8 colour typographic works by Finlay and Ron Costley. The texts are word combinations such as SEAPINK or STRAWBERRYCAMOUFLAGE- which have multiple meanings in part because of the lack of any spaces between the words. The works reproduced here were all released as much larger edition prints by the Wild Hawthorn Press but this book was an edition with Maurizio Nannuci in Italy himself a well known concrete and experimental poet (and artist). This is one of the deluxe copies - 150 signed and numbered by Finlay by hand in greem ink. VG+.
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