Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - December - 2013 Issue

Peter Harrington's Christmas Catalogue

John Lennon's unpublished Power to the People.

John Lennon's unpublished Power to the People.

Item 103 is a very rare John Lennon book: Power to the People. The Political Thoughts of John Lennon. It is a compilation of political thoughts the then ex-Beatle expressed during the early 1970s. Lennon and wife Yoko Ono had held their famous “bed-in” for peace in 1969, and John's views could be described as fairly radical. His song, Power to the People, was released in 1971. The dust jacket of the publisher's proof copy is stamped “Publication date 20 Apr 1972,” but in actuality the book was never published. While there is no definitive reason for it not being published, the probable explanation is that the government was attempting to revoke Lennon's residency status in the U.S. on the grounds that he had been convicted in England on a drug charge in 1968. Most likely, the government during the Nixon era did not like John's political views and wished to punish him. To ease the pressure to deport him, it is believed that this book of radical views was withdrawn. Lennon would finally achieve permanent residency status in 1976. £8,500 (US $13,545).

 

Peter Harrington may be reached at +44 (0)20 7591 0220 or [email protected]. Their website is www.peterharrington.co.uk.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Freeman’s, August 20. President Washington Reaffirms the US Treaty of Friendship and Peace with Morocco, the Longest Unbroken Treaty in US History. $50,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s, August 20. Weeks After Victory at Yorktown, Benjamin Franklin Promises Repayment of a French Loan that Funded the American Revolution. $200,000 – 300,000.
    Freeman’s, August 20. Rare First Edition of the Foundational Text of the Mormon Church. $100,000 – 150,000.
    Freeman’s, August 20. President Washington Sends the First Major Law Passed by Congress, the Tariff Act of 1789. $100,000 – 150,000.
    Freeman’s, August 20. A Scarce Example of Audubon's Depiction of a Brown Pelican, Plate CCLI from his Birds of America. $30,000 – 50,000.
    Freeman’s, August 20. The Official and First Obtainable Broadside Printing of the Lincoln's Final Emancipation Proclamation. $30,000 – 50,000.

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