In
this section of the Wonderella website, we will be recommending
other publishers's pamphlets which we feel capture the
spirit of the independent press. Each
time we read these publications we do a little dance of
joy, and we bet you will too. You are encouraged to order
these pamphlets directly from their respective publishers.
You will not be disappointed.
The
list on this page features our first set of recommendations,
dubbed “The Best of the Independent Press,”
from April 2002. To see all the Wonderella recommendations,
please follow the links here:
2002: The Best of the Independent Press
2003: Summer Reads
2004: Mystical England
2006: The Old Ways Are Best
To
order, follow the instructions below. You can click on the
cover images to get a closer look.
The
Cunningham Amendment: Written, printed, and distributed
by a group of Yorkshire free-thinkers calling themselves
“Anarcrisps,” the Cunningham Amendment is a beautiful,
witty declaration of independence from across the pond.
Like those of the other publications on this page, the scans
of this pamphlet’s letterpressed cover and interior
pages do not do them justice.
The
issue of the Cunningham Amendment shown here has 32 pages,
with additional foldout flaps and inserts throughout. Bound
within a cheerful purple cover, it measures 6.25 x 9 inches.
Send inquires about price and availability to:
The
Cunningham Amendment
1005
Huddersfield Road
Bradford BD12 8LP
West
Yorkshire, England
Newer
issues of The Cunningham Amendment can be seen on the Wonderella’s
Summer Reads 2003 page.
The
Free Press Death Ship: This new series navigates the
choppy seas of the underground press, reviewing hundreds
of independent publications and reprinting excerpts from
some of the best. Columns by Karl Wenclas and Death Ship
publisher Violet Jones illuminate some of the most important
issues faced by the underground press. The Death Ship’s
sentiment is perhaps best summed up by this quote, from
the cover:
“Why
does the underground press exist only ‘underground,’
if the glorious Freedom of the Press — mandated by
the Constitutional Brotherhood, and set so poetically to
paper two and one quarter centuries ago — is still
a reality?”
Ms.
Jones’s contention is, correctly, that it is not.
The
Free Press Death Ship has 44 pages and is printed legal
size, or 8.5 x 14 inches. A subscription is “free,”
which is to say that you should give what you are able to
support this worthy endeavor. Send cash only, no checks,
to:
The
Death Ship
P.O. Box 55336
Hayward, Calif. 94545
The
current issue of The Free Press Death Ship can be seen on
the Wonderella’s
Summer Reads 2003 page.
The
Goblin: Here we have the follow-up pamphlet series to
Sean Goblin's remarkable one-shot Binocular Rebellious.
Sean treads some of the same paths this time around, leading
us deeper down, down, into Goblin Town, a place that used
to look a lot like America but is now an overgrown punk-rock
European forest brimming with possibility and free will.
Obtain this key and the kingdom shall be yours.
The
initial issue of The Goblin has 60 pages and is printed
in a custom size of 5.5 x 5.5 inches. Orders for this highly-recommended
pamphlet can be made through the Goblinko
website or via post. If you’re trodding the latter
route, send $3.00 (cash or checks payable to Sean Aaberg)
to:
The
Goblin
P.O. Box 12044
Eugene, Oreg. 97440
The
Match!: Fred Woodworth’s The Match has consistently
questioned authoritarian government, society, and religion
since the magazine’s inception in 1969. Computers,
organized religion, the police, the U.S. Census, jury duty,
and the bookselling industry are just a few of the institutions
regularly disparaged in its pages. Mr Woodworth is a collector
of antique printing machinery, and he puts his collection
to regular use, printing each issue without the use of computers.
The Match also features the world’s largest letters
column, which in recent issues has spanned more than 20
pages. Put shortly, The
Match is not only recommended, it is required.
The
Match averages 80 pages and is printed 6.75 x 9.5 inches.
Like the Free Press Death Ship above, a subscription to
The Match is “free,” but a donation of $10 is
recommended for four issues. Send cash only, no checks,
to:
The
Match!
P.O. Box 3012
Tucson, Ariz. 85702
A
Reader’s Guide to the Underground Press: Also known
as Zine World, this publication is the most consistent meter
of independent publishing. More than 30 of its 70 pages
are devoted to insightful reviews of publications received
by the dedicated staff. The rest of the magazine is filled
with news, columns, and other items of interest to publishers
and readers. Perhaps the most interesting contribution in
the issue shown here is Daniel Nauenburg’s three-page
instructional comic strip “Making Paperback Books by
Hand.”
A
Reader’s Guide to the Underground Press is printed
letter size, or 8.5 x 11 inches. A single copy is $4.00,
a four-issue subscription is $14.00. Send cash only, no
checks, to:
A
Reader’s Guide to the Underground Press
P.O. Box 330156
Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37133-0156
The
Mystery & Adventure Series Review: Another pamphlet
series from Fred Woodworth, the Review examines adventure
books series such as Tom Quest, The Hardy Boys,
and Ken Holt. Aside from looking at the plots of
his favorite books, Fred also discusses the social and cultural
ideas behind them. The Review regularly prints articles
on typography and “outdated” printing techniques,
and readers of The Match! will find this pamphlet series
to be a welcome supplement.
The
Review varies in length, recent issues running 48 and 92
pages, and is printed 6.75 x 9.5 inches. Like The Match,
a subscription to The Review is “free,” but a
donation of $10 is recommended for four issues. Send cash
only, no checks, to:
The
Mystery and Adventure Series Review
P.O. Box 3012
Tucson, Ariz. 85702
The
Studio: Collecting collage and rubber stamp art from
around the world, each issue of The Studio opens windows
into the imaginations of dozens of artists. Aside from its
gallery-like spreads, The Studio also instructs readers
on how to create their own collage art. Most of the interior
pages are reproduced in black and white, but there are usually
a few color inserts that give you an even better sense of
the original art.
As
of this writing, The Studio series is being ended so that
the editor can focus on her new, similar series called Play,
which will be produced in full-color. Details on both series
can be found at The
Studio’s official website.
The
Studio has 60 pages and is printed letter size, or 8.5 x
11 inches. Copies of No.20 and No.21 are available for $7
each (United States only, see website
for orders outside the U.S.), payable to:
Alternative
Arts Productions
P.O. Box 3329
Renton, Wash. 98056
The
Ptolemaic Terrascope: This highly-acclaimed labor of
love documents past and present musical acts, many of which
fall under the umbrella of psychedelic music. Beautifully
designed and printed, each issue ships with a compilation
CD featuring new and old songs. The Terrascope can be hard
to find, as editor Phil McMullen prints only enough issues
to fill subscriptions and pre-orders.
The
Ptolemaic Terrascope is printed A4 size, or 8.25 x 11.5
inches. Recent issues have averaged 60 to 70 pages. Curious
readers in the United States can pre-order the next issue
by sending $12 to the address below. Ordering information
for readers outside the U.S. can be found at the Ptolemaic
Terrascope’s official website.
The
Ptolemaic Terrascope
P.O. Box 2152
Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 7UQ
England
The
current issue of The Ptolemaic Terrascope can be seen on
the Wonderella’s
Summer Reads 2003 page.
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