MARXISM

The parallel which Bertrand Russell showed between Marxism and Christianity is apparent in this piece of quasi-religious propaganda, which presumably emanates from the Communist Party of Great Britain. It is printed in red on one side of a 20 x 29 cm piece of shiny paper, scarcely thicker than tracing paper. Lightly aged, and with creasing and wear to extremities. The text, which translates part of a letter sent by Stalin to the Rabochaya Gazeta on the first anniversary of Stalin’s death, reads as follows: ‘Remember, love and study Lenin, our teacher and leader.

The two parts, apparently from different letters, are both on bifoliums: the first, numbered '2', is 4pp., 12mo; the second, numbered '5', is 4pp., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The second bifolium signed at end: 'Best Wishes to Mrs C. | Yrs | J B. Askew'. Written in a neat if somewhat eccentric hand. The first bifolium begins: '[…] is very sore. Nothing will be done at the Congress except Bebel [August Bebel (1840-1913), German socialist] will speak and move a resolution to the effect that the Party stands by its present program and tactics.

24pp., 12mo. Stapled. In good condition, with light signs of age. A wartime pamphlet, the latest reference in which is to 'the "demonstration" vote of the Socialist Party in the Reichstag, July, 1918, against the Budget', and thus written between that date and the end of the war. The author's message is summed-up in his conclusion: 'Franz Mehring is right in declaring that the old German Social Democracy is dead.

1. "The Silence in Russian Culture", reprinted from Foreign Affairs (October 1957), pamphlet, printed paper wraps, 24pp., cr. 8vo, edges sunned, good, NOT signed or annotated, but apparently scarce; 2. "John Stuart Mill and the Ends of Life", pamphlet (Robert Waley Cohen Memorial Lecture, 1959), buff printed paper wraps, 34pp, 8vo, front cover INSCRIBED J.J. fm I.B. ]JJ = James Joll, historian, notorious for sheltering the Fourth Man, Sir Anthony Blunt, Soviet spy] "Herder and the Enlightenment", (reprinted from Earl R. Wasserman (ed.), "Aspects of the Eighteenth Century", 1965, pp.45 [inc.

These ten items were produced at the height of the surge of outrage with which the American left greeted the killing of four students by National Guardsmen at Kent State University, Ohio, on 4 May 1970. (As an example of the incident's wider cultural significance, see the song 'Ohio' by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.) Originating from New York, six of the items are dated from the end of the same month, and the other undated items date from the same period. All ten items are single leaves. Eight of them are 8vo, one is 21 x 18cm, and the other 35 x 21cm.

Both items in very good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Both letters are written in an excited, gushing style, and have the margins filled with extra text. Letter to Sylvia Lynd: 2pp., 4to. Addressed to 'Dear Mrs Lynd'.

20pp, 12mo. Stapled. In red printed wraps, with cartoon on cover showing giant worker sweeping away miniature capitalists. In fair condition: lightly-aged and with central vertical fold. Scarce: the only copies on COPAC at the British Library and Warwick University.

All items clear and complete, on aged paper. Letters totaling: 4to, 1 p; landscape 8vo, 5 pp. The two cards carry long messages, written in red ink in Grubb's close, neat hand; one is standard size, the other 27 x 13.5 cm. Five envelopes are stapled to their letters. Grubb ('one of the last survivors of the famous 1960s Hampstead coterie of writers, actors and critics') writes entertainingly in an emphatic, energetic manner marvellously evocative of the 1970s London literary scene.

All four items clear and complete, on aged paper with wear to the extremities of item one. Item One: 'Leaflet No. 1. English League for the Taxation of Land Values. Statement of Principles.' 12mo, 4 pp, on unbound bifolium. Headings include 'Objects of the League', 'Meaning of Land Values', 'The Taxation of Land Values would be just', 'The Taxation of Land Values would promote general prosperity and remove social evils'. Item Two: '[...] No. 3. The Taxation of Land Values: What it would do. 12mo leaflet, 2 pp.

One of the best-known theoreticians of the Second International (1854-1938). Subtitled 'Separat-Abdruck aus der "Neuen Zeit", Heft 1-4, 1889.' 79 pages, 8vo. In original grey printed wraps. Paper browning and with some fraying to corners of prelims, but good and tight with last gathering unopened. Wraps discoloured, with some wear and loss. Rear wrap, with publishers advertisements on outside, loose.