LEARY, Timothy ~ The Politics of Ecstacy.

FIRST UK PRINTING. MacGibbon & Kee Ltd., London: 1970.

Tall 8vo., purple publisher's boards, lettered and lined in silver to spine with publisher's device to foot; in the unclipped pictorial dustwrapper (36s net), featuring an illustration by Martin Sharp; several tables and 'seals' within text; THE BOOK a very sharp copy, text block evenly toned, as is common; a few dents to boards with some sunning to foot; THE WRAPPER near-fine, just a little creased and browned at head, with some faint brown marks and spots. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. First UK edition, first printing. A provocative exploration of the realms of human consciousness by the renowned "messiah, martyr, and high priest of the psychedelic". Leary, who first experienced the effects of psychedelic mushrooms in Mexico in the 1960s, here provides a series of essays defending their use and purpose. They include insights into the sexual power of LSD, an early outline of his neurological theory, an exploration of the life and work of Herman Hesse, and an impassioned defense of 'The Fifth Freedom' - the claim that anyone who wants to take part in the psychedelic experience has a right to experience it. The cover illustration is provided by Martin Sharp, the Australian cartoonist and famous editor of the counterculture magazine 'Oz'. Very scarce.

BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good
JACKET: Near Fine