Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

The Situationist Times. International Edition. Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (6 volumes Complete) [Original Lithographs]

Jong, Jacqueline de (ed.); Noël Arnaud (ed.)

Hengelo (Netherlands() Copenhagen, Paris: The Situationist Times, 1962-1964. First edition. Softcover. Quartos. Original illustrated stiff wraps with lettering in variant colors on covers, protected by modern mylar.

The Situationist International (SI) was formed by a group of international social revolutionaries from a variety of fields, including avant-garde artists, intellectuals, and political theorists in 1957. The theoretical foundation was derived from so-called libertarian Marxism and avant-garde art movements like Dada and Surrealism. Its theoretical underpinnings relate to the concept of the spectacle as it was developed by Guy Debord in his book "The Society of the Spectacle."

Jacqueline de Jong, a Dutch artist and graphic designer, had joined the movement in 1960 and advanced quickly into its Central Committee. She decided to start "a completely free magazine, based on the most creative of the Situationist ideas," and published the first issue in 1962, a broad representation of the movement and its efforts to synthesize the diverse fields and theoretical disciplines into a comprehensive critique of advanced capitalism.

Six issues of the magazine were published until 1967 before the student uprising of May 1968, leaving the seventh issue compiled but unpublished. The first two issues were co-edited by the French pataphysician Noël Arnaud. The magazines contained literary contributions, artwork, found objects and used quotations relating to such issues as topology, politics and "spectacle culture." It was originally released in offset print and starting with issue # 4 switching to full color lithography, printed to different quality paper of variant color and weight with text in English, French and German.

Issue one: 30 leaves. Includes an essay by Noel Arnaud, an extensive certified transcript of the Criminal Court in Munich relating to accusations of production and distribution of lewd writings in the magazine "Spur" and public slander against Dieter Kunzelmann, Helmut Sturm, Heimrad Prem and Hans-Peter Zimmer, including facts of the case and an answer of the court, comics by R. Gasché and others, a Proclamation for L'Internationale Situationiste! and other contributions. Small strip of sunning along top and foredge.

Issue two: 32 leaves, two folding. Includes a declaration concerning the conviction and imprisonment of the Situationist Uwe Lausen, various contributions relating to the trial mentioned in issue one, including the verdict and a reaction to the trial by Rodolphe Gasché, artwork by Gail Singer and others, a musical concept on two folding pages, poetry by Marcel and Gabriel Piqueray, among other contributions.

Issue three (International British Edition): 48 leaves. Includes an essay by Anton Ehrenzweig "Meditations on the Future of Art," artwork by Ann Hagen, an extensive contribution on the patterns of Situological Aspects found in a) the "Early Christian monuments in Scotland and b) the "Principles of topological psychology" by Kurt Lewin, with a mathematical (analysis situs) introduction by Max Brucaille, and other contributions. Some light staining on front cover.

Issue four: 184pp. Focusing on labyrinths this issue includes contributions Lech Tomaszewski, by Italian artist Piero Simondo, the Max Bucaille, W. Lietzmann, H. L. C. Jaffé, the Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck, Lars-Ivar Ringbom, Julius Schwabe, Gaston Bachelard, Kalevalla (A Finnish Myth), and Franz Kafka (An Imperial Message) and James Joyce, among other contributions. Profusely illustrated with drawings and photographs throughout.

Issue five: 110 leaves. Articles by Asger Jorn "Mind and sense" and "Art and Orders," various contributions by Max Bucaille, excerpts from the opera "The Labyrinth" by Jim Ryan, "Kreisen, Kreissegmenten und Wellenlinien etc." by F. van der Waals, "Some mathematical aspects" by H. C. Doets, drawings and poems by Karl Pelgrom and Jim Ryan, and many other contributions. Editor's note at rear: "In this No. of the Situationist Times (5) do we try to open up the problem of the ring, interlaced rings and consequently, chains... Half an inch chip on edge of back cover.

Issue six: 32 card stock leaves: Contains thirty-three full page original lithographs, including cover, in color and b/w by Pierre Alechinsky, René Bertholo, Martin Engelmann, Maurice Henry, Jacqueline de Jong, Asger Jorn, Peter Klasen, Wilfredo Lam, Lea Lublin, Milvia Maglione, Roberto Matta, Lucio del Pezzo, Antonio Saura, Yasse Tabuchi, and others. Cover by Ulf Trotzig. Near fine condition. Item #48570

Price: $5,000.00