SPARK vol 1 no 6

San Francisco: Progressive Labor Party, 1965. Folded tabloid newsprint, 8pp. Editor (post-)proofing copy of the August 1965 issue of SPARK: Western Voice for Revolution, the periodical newspaper of the Progressive Labor Party out of San Francisco. Primarily edited by activist, reporter, and poet John Ross, this copy is riddled with blue inked corrections, suggestions, and downright reprimands; although it is unclear whose hand put them down. While the corrections range from purely formatting in nature (unneeded white space" "poorly done rule", etc) to journalistic (is this Really p.1 material?", "3 of 5 pp. taken from Challenge/Desafia -- don't we have enough local news --"), the Marxist spirit behind this technical dressing-down is revealed in an extended closing argument to the outer gutter of the final page: "this suffers from hastily done editorial and production work, lacking control and craftsmanship. Lateness in editorial prep. of copy cannot be made up by trying to rush the production phase of the paper. Only by careful, self-critical work, can a trained paper staff be developed." For lack of an authoritative bibliography, library holdings suggest a print run for SPARK at 1965-1967. In those few years it made the usual rounds: from being heavily featured in HUAC's (House Un-American Activities Committee) classic "Subversive Influences in Riots, Looting, and Burning. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1968. Pt. 6: Subversive Influences in Riots, Looting, and Burning (San Francisco - Berkeley) (June 27, 28, 1968)" to the March 1966 isue getting a prominent shout-out in the FBI files on protest and organizing around and against Hubert H. Humphrey (p.16, section 7) [AAVW.org]. This issue covers the Vietnam War, the war on poverty in San Francisco, a murder by police in Seattle, the struggle of Farm Workers in California, and more. About the last three pages provide coverage in the Spanish language. Near Fine, light edge and handling wear, light toning. Item #629

Price: $150.00