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318.
Anarchy in the U.K.
London: EMI Records, 1976. Original promotional poster (small version) for the Sex Pistols’ debut single. 36x50cm. Offset litho.
Designed by Jamie Reid, featuring a torn Union Jack souvenir flag reassembled with safety-pins and clips, and produced for the single’s release on November 26, 1976.
Discussing Reid’s design in “Up They Rise”, Jon Savage commented: “Anarchy in the U.K. was the Sex Pistols’ first single, and as such had to be exploited and illustrated to its full effect. The ‘Anarchy’ flag was used for a promotional poster. The original image was tiny, an 8 inch by 4 inch tatty old souvenir flag, but from his printing experience Jamie realized it would look very good blown right up. It was photographed by Ray Stevenson. The deliberate misuse of the nation’s flag is a good example of the scope of the Sex Pistols’ ambition at this stage” (p.57).
Near Fine. Conservation linen-backed.