from Guy Debord

To Gianfranco Sanguinetti
Wednesday 4 November [1970]
Dear Gianfranco:

I have just received the dummy copy: the pamphlet[1] is magnificent, and the texts that follow it in the sequence are extremely instructive. (Not only was the SI already here in 1969, but we date back to 1831; without doubt, when we are born in Lyon?[2]) You have chosen the characters well. Our title (I.S. [Internationale Situationniste] -- of which the typography dates back, I believe, to 1925-1930 -- appears ultramodern when compared with the characters of the other titles, which were established around 1900. I believe that this typographic evocation of the time in which the spectre of revolution returned will become generally used in several countries where there has been a long, clearly marked interruption of all historical projects. It can be used in Spain, in the project of Xabier [Urdanibia, the Spanish translator of Raoul Vaneigem's Traite de savoir-vivre], or in Germany when we can do something good there.

Since the purge of the Italian section, one can speak of more interesting things that the motorcycle and its perils! [Sanguinetti had been criticized for riding a motorcycle.]

It seems to me that you must come to Paris as soon as possible, right after the moment that the distribution [of Gli opera d'Italie] has been made. Perhaps you can charge a friend such as P with picking up the letters from la casella postale [the post office box]? Write me the day that you are thinking of arriving, and have dinner at my place. I have seen several announcements of interesting apartments. Without doubt, you will find a place to stay here soon after your arrival.

Cordially,
Guy

[1] Gli operai d'Italie e la rivolta di Reggio Calabria [The Workers of Italy and the Revolt In Reggio Calabria].

[2] With the insurrection of the silk workers of Lyon, in November 1831.


(Published in Guy Debord, Correspondance, Volume 4, 1969-1972. Footnotes by Alice Debord. Translated from the French by NOT BORED! June 2005.)



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