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60.
SOUVENIR PROGRAMME FOR THE OFFICIAL LYNCHING OF MICHAEL ABDUL MALIK with Poems, Stories, Sayings by the Condemned (+ poster).
London: Compendium, November 1973. First edition. Stapled wrps., 54pp. Photo-illustrated. Edited and with biographical notes by William Levy and John Michell.
Levy’s copy, with his name written in ink to upper wrapper and a handwritten list loosely inserted featuring the names of those to whom the book had either been sold to or given (among them Simon Vinkenoog, Jim Haynes, Roel van Duyn, Gerard Bellaart, Mike Zwerin, Olaf Stoop, Richard Neville and Philip O’Connor).
The editors’ intention was for the book to publicise and engender compassion for Malik’s plight, and to raise money for his wife and children. The drawing featured on page 6 was also intended to shock and provoke. It depicts a naked woman attempting to perform post-mortem coitus with a hanged man, accompanied by a quotation from Kate Millett, a member of the International Committee to Save Michael X (the artist is unknown, but the image was found by Levy in a Parisian bookshop). The book’s publisher, Compendium Books, disassociated themselves from it as a consequence, and, as recounted elswhere (item #67), the Guerrilla Art Action Group (GAAG), members of the American Committee, also objected, mailing a handwritten denunciation signed by Jean Toche, Jon Hendricks et al to the editors, who then reproduced their letter as part of a small poster promoting the book (also included here; both the poster and book print a quote from William Burroughs, an opponent of the death penalty, who supported the campaign to save Michael X from execution).
Editor’s working copy, with associated wear and tear; old press clippings loosely inserted; poster tanned, with old corner pinholes and central horizontal crease.
