Object + Paper Multiples

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EARTHSHIP. 1965. ONLY 50 MADE; A MAJOR RARITY.

Edinburgh: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1965 31 x 21 x 18cm., printed shoebox content of a paper sculpture made up from 19 printed cards that are stapled together in such a way that the shape can be varied to create "various permutations of the poem depending on arrangement of the organic curved shapes". The work is most probably meant to be placed to resemble a ship at sea. The words all relate to the earth and elements.This is by far one of the most rare of Finlay object multiples - it is estimated that fewer than 50 were made. The staples after 60 years are very minorly rusted and the outer box lid has one tear along the fold but else this is in remarkable shape.

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LAND/SEA INDOOR SUNDIAL. 1970.

Edinburgh: Scottish Arts Council, 1970 33.5 × 30.7 × 7.5cm (when assembled) - etched glass, wood and aluminium gnomon in original custom made wooden box (with postal labels still attached) with 15.1 x 28.8cm, 1pp instruction/commentary leaflet by Stephen Bann. A significant early work which is similar in intent to the print LAND / SEA of 1967. The sundial's hour, declination lines and equinox line etched on the glass dial plate are all practical parts of a normal sundial but they serve to also remind one of the sea and a boat's journey across the lines of longitude and latitude as well as a visual pun of a net being cast from the boat and, finally, that of a sail billowing out from the mast. The number twelve, which is 10˚ East of South according to the instructions, is etched in the glass such that if wished the sundial can work. The number of these sundials made is not clear - probably not too many - and they are scarce indeed. This example is in VG+ condition and with all the original shipping materials and packing box.

SPIRAL BINDING. 1972. ONE OF ONLY 70 SIGNED & NUMBERED EXAMPLES.

Dunsyre: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1972 45 x 18.5cm, orange silkscreen on shaped card with additional triangular card both spiral bound to create a stand-up paper sculpture that resembles a yacht with sails up. This is one of Finlay's most rare works only issued in 70 signed and numbered copies (there were blue versions of the work also). Co-designed with Ron Costley. This examplee has a very slight bend at the top else VG. Murray places this as a print but it is clearly closer to an object multiple and that is where we have catalogued it.

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THE HARBOUR. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 13 x 13cm., green on white ceramic tile. The image is a drawing by Michael Harvey and a verse:"When from the Nor' Nor' West it blows/And sudden showers make waters chilly/I wrap my sails about my nose and anchor by the water-lily." The verse came from a collection of such poems called A MAST OF HANKIES - each of which tells a tale of toy boats. The reference to the sail being wrapped around one's nose is from the idea that the sails of the model boats are created from nose hankies. Finlay for many years built such toys. VG+. Very scarce.

THROUGH A DARK WOOD. MIDWAY. 1975. MEDALLION.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1975 3.5cm, dia. copper and brass plated aluminium medallion with chain. With a design by Ron Costley (which originally was created for the exhibition Heroic Emblems) of the smoke issued by the aircraft carriers to reduce visibility to enemy planes and helicopters during the battle of Midway The text borrows from the opening lines of Dante's 'Divine Comedy': 'In the middle of the journey of our life ('Midway'), I came to myself in a dark wood". The dark wood here is a smoke, This is based on a Costley drawing for the book "Heroic Emblems" and is one of four Finlay medals based on those original collaborative illustrations. All of the Heroic Emblems showed modern machines (mostly of war) in reference to Classical myths. With original box and 14.5 x 14.5cm, 1pp (folded twice) leaflet with a commentary by Stephen Bann. Edition size not known but very hard to find.

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SAVED BY HELICOPTER. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 12 x 12cm., olive green and black on white ceramic tile. The image is a newspaper story of how the Morning Star ran aground and that a boat called the Twilight came to the rescue. Clearly the story appealed to Finlay due to the coincidences of the names. One of 100 published. Very scarce.

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BATTLE OF MIDWAY FOURTH JUNE 1942. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 15.3 x 15.3cm., purple on white ceramic tile with a design after a drawing by Laurie Clark representing the American and Japanese Fleets during the battle of Midway as bees and hives. The American fleet destroyed most of the ships while the Japanese airplanes were in air and the latter had nowhere to land after launching. The various hives (with the names of the ships) can be seen to be on fire. The vast distance between the ships meant that they never saw each other - and the intervening rosebushes obscuring the hives from each other act as a metaphor for the distance. One of only 100 made. VG+.

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THROUGH A DARK WOOD. MIDWAY. SQUARE TILE. 1975. ONE OF 100 MADE.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 14.8 x 14.8.cm, red on white ceramic tile with one of the Heroic Emblems on it. The text "THROUGH A DARK WOOD. MIDWAY." refers to the defining sea battle of the War in the Pacific when the USA destroyed the Japanese fleet. The image of an aircraft carrier hidden in smoke to prevent air attacks is associated with Dante's opening words from the Inferno "In the middle of our life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood.”. One of only 100 made. Very scarce object multiple.

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THROUGH A DARK WOOD. MIDWAY. CIRCULAR TILE. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 14.8 dia., red on white ceramic tile with one of the Heroic Emblems on it. The text "THROUGH A DARK WOOD. MIDWAY." refers to the defining sea battle of the War in the Pacific when the USA destroyed the Japanese fleet. The image of an aircraft carrier hidden in smoke to prevent air attacks is associated with Dante's opening words from the Inferno "In the middle of our life's journey, I found myself in a dark wood.”. The image on this circular tile is the same as that on the square tile issued at the same time and while the limitation not known for some reason this is a much rare version of the ceramic than the square one.

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A CELEBRATION OF EARTH AIR FIRE WATER. 1975. UNIQUE TRIAL PROOF IN RED AND DARK RED.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 15 x 15cm, red and dark red on white ceramic tile with one of Finlay's Heroic Emblems on it. The text "A CELEBRATION OF EARTH AIR FIRE WATER" refers to the role of aircraft carriers during the defining sea battle of the War in the Pacific when the USA destroyed the Japanese fleet. The image of an aircraft carrier with airplanes taking off is an image of a weapon that floats on water, fires missiles, lets its panes go into the air and land on its decks (earth). EARTH, AIR, FIRE, and WATER were believed by classical philosophers to be the fundamental building blocks of nature. This example is unique - a trial print made for Finlay by Kenneth Townsend a specialist in tiles making based in Hastings - Finlay rejected the tile and preferred to release a single brown on white coloured version in an edition of c. 100.

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FIVE FORE AND AFTERS. 1975. ONE OF ONLY 100 MADE.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 14.8 x 14.8cm., green on white ceramic tile with the names of five boat names (and their registered harbours). A fore-and-aft rig is a sailing vessel rigged mainly with sails set along the line of the keel. The names are all optimistic and the typography reflects the shape of the vessels. The title is alliterative around the letter F. One of only 100 made. Scare. VG+.

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A CELEBRATION OF EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER. 1975. MEDALLION.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 19975 3.5cm, dia. copper and brass plated aluminium medallion with chain. With a design by Ron Costley (which originally was created for the exhibition Heroic Emblems) of an aircraft carrier with a plane taking off from the deck. The original drawing relates to the USS Enterprise at the battle of Midway where the Japanese fleet was destroyed by the Americans. Finlay sees the aircraft carrier as typifying the classical elements of air, earth, sky, water and fire.All of the Heroic Emblems showed modern machines (mostly of war) in reference to Classical myths. With original box and 14.5 x 14.5cm, 1pp (folded twice) leaflet with a commentary by Stephen Bann. Edition size not known but very hard to find.

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KLEINER KREUZER SONATA. 1975. MEDALLION.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 19975 3 x 4.5cm, copper and brass plated aluminium medallion with chain. With a design by Ron Costley (which originally was created for the exhibition Heroic Emblems) of a wartime light cruiser with smoking chimney sacks. The drawing is a representation of one of the poet's earlier one-word poems - namely: KLEINER KREUZER SONATAEmden The reference here is a poetic equivalence of a "Kleiner Kreuzer" (a light cruiser) and the Kreu(t)xer Sonata by Beethoven. Both are suggested to be celebrated by mention of the German Warship Emden which was celebrated for its heroic exploits by its national populus (and, of course, Beethoven also was German).All of the Heroic Emblems showed modern machines (mostly of war) in reference to Classical myths. With original box and 14.5 x 14.5cm, 1pp (folded twice) leaflet with a commentary by Stephen Bann. Edition size not known but very hard to find.

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PLAINT OF THE BARGE-SAILS. c. 1975?

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (c. 1975?) 12 x 24cm., brown on white ceramic tile. The well known song Oranges & Lemons is re-written to re-contextualise the nursery rhyme to a maritime alternative - each rhyme ends with a fishing port and that geographical distinction defines which boat is chosen to make the couplet. Date unknown but all other Finlay tiles were published in the mid 70s. This tile is not in Murray or any other catalogue raisonne. A rarity. VG+.

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ZEPHYR INS6. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 15.3 x 15.3cm., blue on white ceramic tile with the the name of a boat ZEPHYR and its registered harbour - Inverness - and number. FInlay has referred to the boat name before - it clearly has positive implications for sailors given a zephyr is regarded as a sort of bonus wind to speed up a journey. When one looks up the background of the boat one finds that it was "Built at Dunbar in 1969. (A) scalloper owned by John MacAlllister Ltd of Oban. Throughout his artistic endeavours Finlay always felt the need to return to the sea, - much like a scalloper. One of only 100 made. Scare. VG+ Murray has this as 7.51. .

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AMARYLLIS BCK55. 1975.

Dunsyre: Little Sparta, 1987 15.3 x 15.3cm, hand-painted yellow on white ceramic tile displaying the title Concrete poem. One of a group of three such tiles each with the name of a boat alongside its official registration number (Buckie in the North East of Scotland). Often shown as part of a triptych consisting of Zephyr, Shepherd Lad and Amaryllis. One of only 100 made. VG+.

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SHEPHERD LAD KY 216. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 15.3 x 15.3cm., blue and green handpainted on white ceramic tile with the the name of a boat SHEPHERD LAD and its registered harbour - Inverness - and number. Often shown as part of a triptych consisting of Zephyr, Shepherd Lad and Amaryllis. One of only 100 made. VG+.

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AMARYLLIS BCK55. 1975. UNIQUE TRIAL PROOF WITH DIFFERENT COLOURS.

Dunsyre: Little Sparta, 1987 15.3 x 15.3cm, hand-painted yellow on white ceramic tile displaying the title Concrete poem. One of a group of three such tiles each with the name of a boat alongside its official registration number (Buckie in the North East of Scotland). Often shown as part of a triptych consisting of Zephyr, Shepherd Lad and Amaryllis. This is a unique trial proof of the design where Finlay has the colours in red and yellow - he eventually rejected this combination in favour of a single colour for both words. VG+.

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THUNDERBOLT STEERS ALL. 1975. MEDALLION.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 19975 3 x4.5cm, copper and brass plated aluminium medallion with chain. With a design by Ron Costley (which originally was created for the exhibition Heroic Emblems) of a tank above which the title text - a reference to Zeus and his lightning bolts is set. The original quote comes from Heraclitus: "the Thunderbolt that steers the course of all things". All of the Heroic Emblems showed modern machines (mostly of war) in reference to Classical myths. Originally boxed with leaflet but this example does not have those elements. Edition size not known but very hard to find.

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PACIFIC. 1975. WARGAME AS OBJECT MULTIPLE AND POEM.

Stoneypath): Wild Hawthorne Press, 1975 19 x 28 cm. board war game for two players consisting of playing board, die cut counters and printed instructions. Fine copy of this rare work. Still in original plastic wallet and unusually here with mimeographed order form - black on pink 80gsm uncoated stock A4, folded to DL size as for mailing. This example has never been played - the die cut counters are still in their original card mouldings. Finlay's interest in the WWII war in the Pacific as metaphor led to the production of this unusual artist's game. JOINT WITH:<BR< Original cardboard mailer with rubber stamp impression "Pacific The non-scale Wargame". VG+. Finlay apparently believed that Pacific could be a successful and financially beneficial game but sadly that did not happen.

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TROMBONE CARRIER. 1975.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1975 11.2 x 15.2 cm, 6pp printed folder content of one 1pp printed card with three attached metal paper clips. The clips are placed into diecut slots to make the drawing of the tanker looking like it has a larger load (the paper clips resemble the metallic twists of a trombone. An unusual object multiple. VG+.

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ELEGY FOR "WHIMBREL" AND "PETREL" PETROL. 1975

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 15 x 15.cm, brown on white ceramic tile with a drawing by Ron Costley of a sailing boat and the text: "ELEGY FOR "WHIMBREL" AND "PETREL" PETROL" around the outside. One of only 100 made. Very scarce object multiple.

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THE FOUR SEASONS AS FORE-AND-AFTERS. 1975

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 10.7 x 10.7cm, black and olive green on white ceramic tile with a diagram of a sundial in the middle and the text: " THE FOUR SEASONS AS FORE-AND-AFTERS." around the outside with four names of boats "the Samuel Moss", "the Kathleen and May", "the Minnie Flossie" and "the William Ashburner" on each side - each pertaining to one of the four seasons. One of only 100 made. Very scarce object multiple.

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IJN DJINN YAMATO. 1975

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1975) 7.5 x 15.2cm, red on white ceramic tile with a profile drawing of the Japanese battleship of the Yamato class (the largest in their navy) which was suck by American forces during the battle of Okinawa on April 7, 1945Above the title text "IJN DJINN YAMATO". This is perhaps the hardest of Finlay's tiles to find. VG+.

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PORT DISTINGUISHING LETTERS. SQUARE TILE. 1976.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1976) 15.3 x 15.3cm, green on white ceramic tile with typography by George L. Thomson - the various port letters of Scottish fishing boats are placed in a circular design (similar to Sea Poppy and earlier prints) to create a "world" or to remind one of the way stars circle in the sky over time.

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TREE-SHELLS. SQUARE TILE. 1976. BLUE ON WHITE VARIANT.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1976) 15.3 x 15.3cm, blue on white ceramic tile with a design by Jim Downie (who later fell out with Finlay by the way the image had been used) - the text reads "TREE-SHELLS. Instructions: Apply ear to Tree-Shell. Listen for lakes." This is a blue on white variant - there are also green on white tiles.

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A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE. GERTRUDE JEKYLL. SQUARE TILE. 1976. YELLOW ON WHITE VARIANT.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1976) 15.3 x 15.3cm, yellow on white ceramic tile with a typographic design - the text A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE" (Shakespeare presumably) is printed along with the name Gertrude Jekyll - a turn of the century British horticulturist and garden designer. This is a yellow on white variant - there are also pink and red versions also on white tiles.

TREE-SHELLS. SQUARE TILE. 1976. GREEN ON WHITE VARIANT.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1976) 15.3 x 15.3cm, blue on white ceramic tile with a design by Jim Downie (who later fell out with Finlay by the way the image had been used) - the text reads "TREE-SHELLS. Instructions: Apply ear to Tree-Shell. Listen for lakes." This is a green on white variant - there are also blue on white tiles.

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TOO MANY LAWS TOO FEW EXAMPLES. TWO JAMPOT COVERS. CREAM PAPER. 1977.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1977 21 x 30cm, 1pp black on cream paper with a design for jam pot covers (the printed paper placed on the outside of jam lids). The design here is based on Saint Just's famous dictum "TOO MANY LAWS TOO FEW EXAMPLES". Limitation unknown.

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FERREA VIRGA EST/STAY-SAIL. TWO JAMPOT COVERS. WHITE PAPER. 1977.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1977 16 x 30cm, 1pp black on white paper with a design for jam pot covers (the printed paper placed on the outside of jam lids). The design here is of two sundials. The text on the first has FERREA VIRGA EST/UMBRATILIS MOTUS (which Finlay slightly takes liberties and translates as "Stainless steel gnomon/porcelain hour") and "STAY-SAIL" on the second. The first describes the light on the imagined sundial and the latter is a reference to the voyage of a ship. Murray has this as 7.9 and seems to not know there were two variants in design and colour of paper.

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LUX UMBRA DEI. TWO JAMPOT COVERS. YELLOW PAPER. 1977.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1977 16 x 30cm, 1pp black on yellow paper with a design for jam pot covers (the printed paper placed on the outside of jam lids). The design here is of two sundials. The text in latin means Light is the shadow of god. Limitation unknown - this is one of two different designs - the other being on white paper. Murray has this as 7.9 and seems to not know there were two variants.

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EX LIBRIS. (BARGE). 1979.

London: V&A, 1979 10.8 x 7cm, 1pp, adhesive back ex libris slip issued at a London exhibition. The drawing by Michael Howard was to Finlay's description. Unused.

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A BUTTERFLY GARDEN. 1979

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1979 19 x 13cm, closed envelope content of twelve tags (each with the word butterfly printed on them) and ties which are to be added to growing plants in a garden to flutter in the wind and hence metaphorically add butterflies to any plot. Drawing by George L. Thomson. VG.

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EX LIBRIS. LIGHT COMES AFTER ME. 1979.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1979) 10.8 x 7cm, 1pp, adhesive back ex libris slip. The design has an uncredited drawing of a Spitfire plane moving amongst searchlight. The text being a religious reference. The label was printed for an exhibition in the London V & A. Murray 7.19.

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EX LIBRIS., SUPERIOR GARDENS ARE COMPOSED OF GLOOMS & SOLITUDES..... 1979.

Little Sparta: Wild HawthonePress, n.d. (1979) 12.5 x 7cm, 1pp, adhesive back ex libris slip. The design has an uncredited drawing of a cemetery island with crypt and the epigram by Finlay: "Superior Gardens are composed of Glooms & Solitudes and not of Plants & Trees." The work might be seen as a momento mori as well as a comment on Finlay's thoughts on how to create a successful and complex garden. Not in Murray.

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RE-USE TREES SAVE PAPER. 1981.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1981 13.5 x 14cm, green on white adhesive label with a reworking of the more common : "Save trees/recycle paper" but with an even more ecologically sound message. Slight spotting to the paper else VG. Murray has this as 7.23.

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ARCADIAN GLIDERS. 1981.

London: White Lies Publications, 1981 21 x 15 x 1cm, two part printed green box content of a bag of elastic bands, nine silkscreen prints of different Arcadian glider kits (each 21 x 15cm, 1pp) and an instruction booklet. "Each airplane is embellished with a military decal and the name of an appropriate common garden feature has been printed on the rear wing. When the airplanes have been constructed, they may either be displayed together as a squadron or, if you have access to a garden, they should be carefully placed in the relevant spot to act as markers or name tags and a pleasing focus of interest for when the flowers are out of season." (I An unusual garden multiple published by Steve Wheatley's small press. VG+ in like box.

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KINDOM OF FINE/ARCADIA/STRATHCLYDE REGION. FULL SHEET OF CINDERELLA STAMPS. 1982

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1982 14 x 14.5cm, full sheet with retained margins of three cinderella stamps - the first is KINGDOM OF FIFE - a 1p stamp with an image of four boats on it. The second is ARCADIA which is a 14p "stamp" with a drawing of peas open in a pod and the final stamp is an image of Joseph Stalin with the words STRATHCLYDE REGION above and below and is a 15p stamp. Unused and in near mint condition.

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LET US INVITE NATURE AND ALL THE VIRTUES TO OUR FESTIVALS. RED VARIANT.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. 14.8 x 14.8cm, red on white unused jam pot label from the edition of 15 small jars. The text is a quote from Saint-Just relating to the large scale festivals to celebrate the Cult of the Supreme Being during the Terror of the French Revolution. There were two variant printings of this item - one with a blue colour, and the other red. This is the latter. Fine condition. Not in Murray.

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LET US INVITE NATURE AND ALL THE VIRTUES TO OUR FESTIVALS. BLUE VARIANT.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. 14.8 x 14.8cm, red on white unused jam pot label from the edition of 15 small jars. The text is a quote from Saint-Just relating to the large scale festivals to celebrate the Cult of the Supreme Being during the Terror of the French Revolution. There were two variant printings of this item - one with a blue colour, and the other red. This is the former. Fine condition. Not in Murray.

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THE STRATHCLYDE TIMES. FRIDAY JUNE 17 1983.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press (?), Friday 17 June 1983 21 x 30cm, 2pp black on off-white newsprint. A parody newspaper with humorous articles about the dispute between Strathclyde Region and Ian Hamilton Finlay over rates for the Garden temple at Little Sparta. Spurious claims of Little Sparta having a "secret weapon: the "Tucker Gun" based on a 19060s abstract sculpture by WIlliam Tucker. The act of postering the Scottish Arts Council building is also reported on with an image of one of the posters gummed onto the columns outside the building. US troops are also reported to have landed in the Pentland Hills and are "preparatory to advancing into Strathclyde Region" and "taking over key points such as.... Strathclyde Region's HQ." Unusual for Finlay the attacks here are reasonably soft and amusing. A extremelyhard to find document from the Little Sparta War.

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WILDFLOWER. VASE. 1986.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1986 14 x 7 x 7cm, ceramic glazed vase in the shape of a classical column and a definition of the word WILDFLOWER in red and blue - "A MEAN TERM BETWEEN REVOLUTION AND VIRTUE." A wildflower is untamed and uncontrolled even when beautiful - here Finlay's definition places the idea of such a person as being "between revolution and virtue" which i the actual French uprising was not seen as incompatible. The word "mean" also is allowed two meanings - "an average" and "an unpleasant'. Together this work invites the viewer to consider the role of the individual within collective action and collective morality. Sadly this vase was damaged by a member of the public when Paul Robertson's collection was exhibited in Summerhall, Edinburgh - there is a clean break all around the top of the cubic base - and the red and blue glazing is not as strong as it should have been. Finlay gave this vase to Herbert Winter the well-known gallerist in Wein from whence Robertson purchased it. Limitation of the edition is not known but probably not too many.

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EIGHT STICKERS FOR SAINT-JUST VIGILANTES. 1989.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1989 12 x 24cm, unprinted white envelope with sticker closure content of eight different adhesive stickers - sizes vary due to poor cutting post printing but all are c. 14 x 11.5cm, printed red and black. The stickers are all inspired by sayings or events of the French revolution around the year 1793. These were distributed as campaign materials for use by supporters of Finlay during his disputes with Strathclyde regional Council over the rating of Finlay's Garden Temple (which they claimed was an art gallery whereas Finlay stated it was a religious building". All unused, The sealed envelope has been opened using scissors and not too neatly. Not found in Murray.

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BOOKMARKS. 1989. INCLUDES REPRINTS OF TREE (ARBRE) LEAF BARK.

Edinburgh: Morning Star Publications, n.d. (1989) A selection of seven different "bookmarks" by Lorine Niedecker, Thomas A. Clark, Basho (translated by Cid Corman), Cid Corman and four by Ian Hamilton Finlay. Two of the bookmars are reprints of earlier cards - Tree (Arbre) and Leaf bark - which are described elsewhere in this catalogue to which two additional cards are added both lists of "definitions" for words beginning with A: Affluence, Allotment, Angel, Apollo, Arcadia, Arrow and a relevant quote.The edition size is not known. Morning Star Publications was the press set up by Finlay's son Eck (later Alex Finlay). While individually we have catalogued the earlier items as artist's postcards - here as a group we are identifying this as a paper multiple. All VG+.

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TWINE IS JACOBIN/STRING IS GIRONDIST. 1990.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorne Press, 1990 30.4 x 12.5cm, two printed card labels with string and twine respectively in envelope. The more extreme Jacobin grouping within the French revolution are compared with the Girondists (who were also committed revolutionaries but who were ousted in the insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793 as being insufficiently committed to rooting out perceived traitors to the cause). The latter insurrection of the more extreme of the Sans Culottes led to the Reign of Terror. Twine is much rougher than string - and the metaphor is that of the less cultured people of Paris being less sophisticated and less willing to accept compromises. Only 100 copies of this simple but striking object multiple were made. VG in like envelope.

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TOM, DICK AND HARRY. EMBROIDERED NAME TAG.

Edinburgh: Morning Star Press, n.d. 4 x 0.5cm, machine embroidered name patch issued as part of a book publication by the Press – here separately mounted by stitching onto a 5.4 x 18.7cm unprinted card. The red thread has three names of boats "Tom", "Dick" and "Harry" but together reminds one of the cliche. VG+ condition.

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LES PETITES NATIVITES. 1990.

London: Victoria Miro, 1990 21 x 20cm, 1pp black and red on cream card. A "cut-out' which would allow the owner to make a small cardboard manger (with the cut away pieces of card used to create "hay" by shredding. The instruction is "to be viewed through the window at Victoria Miro Gallery, 21 Cork Street, London W1, from 23 December to 6 January, '91". A Christmas card of sorts. With original crepe paper "wrap around". VG+.

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EVENING WILL COME THEY WILL SEW THE BLUE SAIL. 1991. ENAMEL BADGE.

Edinburgh: Graeme Muray Gallery, 1991 5 x 1m, printed enamel lapel badge with metal safety pin clasp. The text is from one of Finlay's most famous works - EVENING WILL COME THEY WILL SEW THE BLUE SAIL - which was firstly created as a wooden sculpture in Finlay's garden and later was printed in two editions as prints. For a lengthy commentary on that work see the separate listing in this collection under Prints + Posters. Limitation unknown. VG+ example.

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LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. SWEAT SHIRT. 1991.

Edinburgh: Graeme Murray Gallery, 1991 Red 100% cotton sweatshirt with an image of a boat called "Little Little Drummer Boy". Finlay was interested in this image from the 1970s because the reef knots on the sails reminded him of the pattern on the outside of the drums used by the French revolutionary army within which Bara the "little drummer boy" was martyred. XL. There were blue, grey and black variants of this clothing multiple. VG+

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TOO MANY LAWS TOO FEW EXAMPLES. 1994.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1994 5cm, dia. printed plastic with metal safety pin clasp. A lapel badge with the title text on it in white on red (the colour of blood). Issued in the year of the European elections the slogan alludes to Saint-Just's "Fewer laws, more examples" but here the over emphasis on "too many" rather and "fewer" refelcts Finlay's own experiences with Scottish local governmental restrictions. Limitation not known. VG+>

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1794. TOO MANY ALLEGATIONS TOO FEW EXAMPLES. 1994.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1994 5cm, dia. printed plastic with metal safety pin clasp. A lapel badge with the title text on it in blue on white. Issued in the year of the European elections the slogan alludes to Saint-Just's "Fewer laws, more examples" but with a twist - the "allegations" referred to seem to relate to the libel of Finlay by Catherine Millet and others who accused Finlay of being anti-Semitic (which was absurd and deliberately based on untruths and lies) and the lack of examples being the lack of evidence. Limitation not known. VG+>

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SCOTTISH BLUE BELL. WK279. MATCHBOX SCULPTURE.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. 5.5 x 3.5 x 1.3cm, original "Scottish bluebell" matchbox which has been modified by the addition of a printed glued on card such that when the box is opened the "Sail" of a boat emerges with the text "WK279" upon it - the boat's number. If you wish to google it then it is a real boat - working trawler. On another part of the card the text reads: "BLUEBELL Call Sign GMWZ 38 net tons". The boat's name , of course, matches the brand of the matches. An ingenious small object multiple that charms in the surprise of the pop up "sail". Edition size not known. VG+.

TEAPOTS ARE THE NAVALS OF HAPPY HOUSEHOLDS. 1995?

N.p. (Little Sparta): s.p. (Wild Hawthorn Press), n.d. (1995?) 16.5 x 15 x 24cm, glazed ceramic teapot with a text "TEAPOTS ARE THE NAVALS OF HAPPY HOUSEHOLDS". A limited edition object multiple - Finlay produced at least two teapots with text of which this is one. Slight internal damage to the pot but not visible from outside when the lid is on. Limited edition - the actual number produced was not many.

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SIMPLE AND USEFUL, ....

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. 16 x 10.5cm, transparent resealable plastic bag content of a 12.2 x 6cm, brown manilla label with string. On the label is a poem by Finlay: Simple and useful, attached like the Idea in Plato, a circle incised in its rectangle of cardboard and string. The poem describes the label but compares it to Platonic philosophy where items have perfect forms which are perceived by humanity. Limitation unknown. VG+. Scarce.

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HARVESTER PD98/ GLEANER B275. FULL SHEET OF STAMPS IN WINDOW ENVELOPE. 1996.

Edinburgh: City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries, 1996 Two sheets of cinderella stamps - each 14,5 x 13cm, consisting of 12 stamps with designs by Finlay and Gary Hincks issued separately from the book (stamp album) "The Illustrated Stamp Album for Postage Stamps of the World: Imagined Lands; Vol. XIV Scotland." > The book was issued in 500 copies but some of the stamps were available separately. The brown 35p stamp -HARVESTER- shows a wooden old fashioned fish box (where fish are sold at market from) and the blue 1 euro - GLEAMER - shows a more modern plastic version of the same box. The move from the traditional to the new reflects the change in marItime law that took place when the UK entered the European Union.Finlay did cards and also an unique work based on these boat names and registration numbers. PD is Peterhead and B is Belfast.

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TWO HORIZONS. 1998.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, Christmas 1998 4 x 10 x 3.5cm, custom made printed cardboard box content of two cotton reels - one with light blue thread, the other grey. The outside of the box has the text: "TWO HORIZONS". The object multiple references a number of other Finlay works that notes that a horizon at sea is blue and that on land is grey. A physical embodiment of that visual poem. The box is slightly damaged but overall VG.

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SP. NET MARKERS OF THE DISCIPLES. 1999. PRIVATE CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1999 Original mailing box content of a 2 x 4 x 1cm, pewter faux "net marker" with the inscription "SP" and a 12 x 16cm, 4pp printed card. A Christmas gift (here to the art dealers and curators M+R Fricke, Dusseldorf). Net markers, traditionally made of wood or cork, were used to establish ownership of nets in fishing communities and in ports usually carved with the fisherman's initials (sometimes a monogram) or later, as boats and their crews grew larger, with the fishing numbers of the fisherman's boat. The card has a drawing on it (by Gary Hincks) of five net markers with A, JS, JN, SP, A on them - these represent the first five of Jesus's disciples and there is a biblical quote - from Matthew 4: 'As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,...“. The card was signed in red ink “love from Ian and Pia (Simmig)". The pewter marker here has "SP" on it - representing Simon Peter (later to become the Catholic Saint Peter and the founder of the Catholic church). Being a Christmas gift this has a religious meaning - the first disciples were fishermen and much of that metaphor of Jesus as a fisher of men is reflected in this story of recruitment. This object multiple falls firmly within Finlay's interest of marine life and the communities around them. The outer mailing box is a little battered due to the mailing process and the inner card is slightly bent due to the box not quite being big enough to allow it to sit without some warping but otherwise this is in VG+ condition. Scarce - limitation was limited to those for friends and colleagues.

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BLUE LEMON. HOT LEMON.

N.p. (Basel?): s.p. (Finlay), n.d. 2.5 x 3.5 x 0.75cm, two part printed matchbox content of blue tipped safety matches. The outside of the box has two separate sides – one being a promotional address and logo for a Swiss nightclub and the other (rather bizarrely) being an Ian Hamilton Finlay work with the name of a boat (Blue Lemon) with details of its port (Moray Firth) and boat number. We can find no reference to this in the Finlay literature and we do not know the limitation but it came from the collection of Finlay’s friend and collaborator Janet Boulton. In VG+ estate. Scarce. Not in the Murray catalogue raisonne.

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ART IS A SMALL ADJUSTMENT. XMAS 2001.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 2001 180 x 35cm., 100% lamb's wool scarf with embroidered text. One corner of the blanket is stitched in such a way that one corner is permanently folded back. The title "ART IS A SMALL ADJUSTMENT" hints at the minimalism of the work. A Xmas gift from Finlay to friends - there were two colour variations in the wool colour - dark blue and light brown - this is one of the latter. VG.

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SAILS/WAVES. 2002. ONE OF 20 ISSUED.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 2002 183 x 122cm, two colour embroidery on a wool/cashmere blanket with backing material. The original version of SAILS/WAVES was originally conceived in 1970 and published as an artist's card. There was an earlier design variant of the same work but essentially the equivalence of the shape of sails being blown in the wind with the shape of waves is the point here. One is reminded in some ways of Wittgenstein's Rabbit/Duck visual pun. Only 20 examples of this large blanket were made. An artwork to keep you intellectually warm.

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THE DIVIDED MEADOWS OF APHRODITE. 2002. ONE OF 20 EXAMPLES.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 2002 183 x 122cm, two colour embroidery on a wool/cashmere blanket with backing material. The original version of THE DIVIDED MEADOWS OF APHRODITE was originally conceived in 1975 and published as a print. Aphrodite was famously a chaste virgin who when spied upon took extreme revenge. Here Aphrodite is shown as an aircraft carrier and the "divided meadows" which is a reference to her labia is the runway from which war planes can be launched against an enemy. Only 20 examples of this large blanket were made. An artwork to keep you intellectually warm.

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FLEUR DE L'AIR. HORLOGE DE FLORE. 2004. ONE OF 150 EXAMPLES MADE.

NYC: Nolan/Eckman, 2004 30 x 9 x 9cm, glass bottle content of olive oil and with plastic, metal and ceramic stopper. An unusual object multiple by Finlay where the bottle has an illustrated label on front reads "fleur de l'air.horloge de flore" and a further tiny label on back of bottle. This was one of only 150 on sale during the exhibition - all unnumbered or signed. Sadly our copy at some point leaked the oil and the label has become discoloured with the grease.

← IAN HAMILTON FINLAY

EARLY WILD HAWTHORN PRESS PUBLICATIONS

ARTIST’S BOOKS

ARTIST’S POSTCARDS

EXHIBITION & OTHER POSTERS

EXHIBITION CATALOGUES

INVITATION CARDS

LETTERS & DOCUMENTS

MISCELLANY

MONOGRAPHS & ESSAYS

OBJECT & PAPER MULTIPLES

PAGE WORKS & CONTRIBUTIONS

PHOTOGRAPHS

POEMS IN FOLDERS

POOR OLD TIRED HORSE & BROADSIDES

PRINTS & POSTERS

PROPOSALS

UNIQUE WORKS