Richard Neville [ed.]; Richard Walsh [ed.]; Martin Sharp [ed.]; Germaine Greer — Oz Magazine

London, Oz Publications Ink Ltd, 1967-1971. First edition. Paperback. A substantial and very scarce 27 issue collection of controversial counterculture magazine Oz, including many of the publications most celebrated and controversial issues, including 'School Kids', and with original posters of Guevara, Hendrix and Joplin. An impressive collection of 27 issues of the influential British underground and counterculture magazine Oz, comprising Nos.  5-8, 11-13, 15-16, 18-22, 24-31, 33-37. These issue span summer 1967 to September 1971. Founded in London in 1967 by Richard Neville, Richard Walsh and Martin Sharp, Oz became one of the defining publications of the British underground press, combining psychedelic graphic design, satire, radical politics and writing on contemporary counterculture. Its contributors and designers included figures such as Martin Sharp, Jim Anderson and Felix Dennis. The magazine became particularly notorious following the 1971 obscenity trial arising from its Schoolkids issue, which is present here. Present are: No. 5. The 'Plant a Flower Child' Martin Sharp/Bob Whitaker issue, otherwise known as the 'Special Suprise Issue', which is in the format of a large folding poster rather than a classic magazine. This is the Pink variant, with no apparent priority. No. 6, & Other Scenes issue No. 7, with Martin Sharp's 'Blowing in the Mind' Bob Dylan image to the front wrap. No. 8, Louise Ferrier cover with loosely insertedChe Guevara poster No. 11, the later yellow variant of the dayglo Martin Sharp cover. No. 12, the folding newspaper issue, with centrefold hippy girl. No. 13, with gold Nigel Weymouth and Michael English poster to wraps. No. 15, with Mick Jagger cover, and Germaine Greer article. No. 16, the Magic Theatre Issue. No, 18, in folding broadsheet format as called for. No. 19, the Germaine Greer/Viv Stanshall issue with articles by Greer and images of her throughout. No. 20, with Jimmy Page interview. No. 21, the Elektra Records Amazement issue, with loosely inserted 'Outcry' insert. No. 22, with Mickey Mouse/ Smiling Moon cover. No. 24, Beautiful Freaks, with loosely inserted poster. No. 25, Hippie Atrocities No. 26, the Pussy Power issue No. 27, Sex Fair Special No. 28, the School Kids Issue Published in 1970, this particular issue was edited by students in the upper and lower sixth form. It became the focus of a high profile obsecenity case, leading to the longest ever trial under the 1959 Obscene Publications Act. This controversial issue features photographs of people in the nude and includes an explicit cartoon strip of Rupert the Bear, among other articles and photographs of the same nature. The defendants reportedly appeared at their hearing dressed as schoolgirls. They were initially found guilty, and then innocent on appeal. No. 29, the Female Energy 'Cuntpower' issue with articles from Germaine Greer No. 30, with loosely inserted Jimi Hendrix poster and interviews with The Rolling Stones and The Doors No. 31, the Yippie Oz/Brave New Morning cover No. 33, with Norman Linsday blue variant cover No. 34, Parents Guide to Drug Abuse volume, discussing the obscenity trial No. 35 the blue/pink issue of the Special Pig Issue, again discussing the obscenity trial No. 36, the Dream Power cover with loosely inserted Janis Joplin poster No. 37, Angry Oz issue Vibrantly illustrated throughout in colour, with an enormous variety of articles on a wide array of subjects. In the publisher's original paper wraps. Externally, vibrant and generally attractive. Wraps of No 21 and No 22 and No 37 detached from text block but present. Closed tears, losses and tide marks of No 37. Losses of paper to tail of rear wrap of No 21. Small loss of paper to tail of rear wrap of No 20. Significant losses to fore edge of front wrap of No. 27. Closed tear and loss to rear wrap of No. 35. Internally, generally firmly bound, but with central leaves of No 28 loosely inserted. Losses to fore edge of first eight leaves of No 27. Pages otherwise age toned due to paper type, but clean. Good . Ill.: Martin Sharp; Nigel Weymouth; Michael English. Good .