DEBORD, Guy, Jacqueline de Jong and Asger Jorn. Hands off Alexander Trocchi.

(Paris): [International Situationniste, 1960].  First edition.  A4 Broadside.  Trocchi had been charged with supplying heroin to a minor in New York in 1961, he faced the near certain prospect of years of imprisonment. The Situationist International in Paris defended their wayward member with this broadside.  The broadside is specifically aimed at fellow artists and intellectuals to
solicit support for Trochhi and testimony on Trocchi’s status as an artist. “Those who would refuse to do this now will be judged guilty themselves when the judgement of the history of ideas will no longer allow one to question the importance of the artistic innovation of which Trocchi has been to a great extent responsible.” Trocchi however, was not relying on a political campaign for his freedom. As soon as he could get bail, he fled to Canada and then to Britain by boat, ‘cold-turkeying’ all the way.  A good copy, some minor marking, creased where folded.