The Masses Vol. IX, No. 8 (Issue #72)
New York: The Masses Publishing Co., June 1917. Saddle-stapled quarto (8-1/2 x 10-5/8 inches) in pictorial wraps, 50 pp.
Cooperatively published and edited revolutionary socialist magazine The Masses (1911-1917) with cover illustration by Hungarian-American Communist artist, Hugo Gellert (1892-1985). This is one of the last issues of the magazine, which was facing irremediable publishing challenges following the passage of the Espionage Act (15 June 1917) which stifled The Masses as being eligible for shipment within the U.S. because the magazine was being charged with printing treasonable material. Specifically the explicit criticism of conscription around this time being charged with obstructing enlistment during World War I. This issue features several cartoons by Beardman Robinson and F.A. Busing satirizing the draft, depicting the inherent morbidity in repressing people's freedom through conscription. These illustrations along with editorials speaking towards pacifism, and against military-industrialist tendencies,were met with demoralizing repercussions from the courts that the staff readily lampooned when being tried. Good condition, chipping stapled sections of spine with 3 inch closed tear to lower third, light soiling to joints of wraps with edges worn and lightly chipped, 4 inch tear to lower half of page 15/16, toning to wraps and text block, flattened 3 inch vertical crease to lower half of first 14 pages, else a strong and certainly readable copy as it's been handled with occasional light pencil markings to articles and margins. Item #3111
Price: $350.00