Penny Rimbaud

Christ’s Reality Asylum [first use of the Crass logo, signed]

Essex: Exitstencil Press, 1977. ide-stapled. 9 ¼ x 13 ¾ in. [20 pp]. Spray painted wraps as well as front and back free endpapers; mimeograph text inside. Signed and inscribed by Penny Rimbaud on the inside title page. Single sheet addendum tipped in (8 ¼ x 11 ¾ in.) Very good with wear, small stains and bumps to wraps, binding and inside pages clean. Item #6073

Penny Rimbaud’s self-published artist book, written and released before the formation of Crass, the first usage of what would later become the band’s logo.

Written and published by Penny Rimbaud, “Christ’s Reality Asylum” was in many ways the blueprint for the socio-political attitude and aesthetic of the band. The manifesto was written and released in Spring 1977 by Rimbaud; a portion of the text was recited by Eve Libertine as the first track of Crass’ first album, “The Feeding of the Five Thousand”, released in 1978. The reading garnered attention from authorities and the band was subsequently charged with criminal blasphemy. Though charges were dropped, law enforcement continued to haunt the band for decades.

The Crass logo was composed by David King for the back cover of this publication. Gee Vaucher began using the design in her collages and it eventually became a recognizable moniker for the group.

An exceedingly scarce book from the origins of anarcho-punk.

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