Small group of ephemera published by the British nuclear disarmament movement.

A fantastic collection of twenty-four ephemeral flyers and pamphlets, and one poster, tracing the history of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and its splinter group, the Committee of 100, during the 1950s and 60s. Including a rare, mimeographed publication by Spies for Peace on RSG 6; an unused Committee of 100 poster; an early flyer on the origin and meaning of the CND logo and the first ceramic badges; a booklet of talks by prominent women activists including Iris Murdoch; and a booklet illustrated by photomontage artist Peter Kennard.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was founded in 1957 and remains one of the largest and most influential anti-nuclear activist groups in the world. From the beginning it attracted the support of numerous public figures, and its striking logo became the internationally recognised 'peace sign'. The CND's most significant activity during the 1950s and 60s was its annual march from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston to London. After a period of decline during the late 1960s and 70s, when attention shifted to the Vietnam War, the organisation saw a revival in the early 80s in response to US missiles being deployed in Britain.

The most significant CND items in this collection are:

1. 'Britain and the Bomb: The Fallacy of Nuclear Defense', a twenty-page pamphlet by playwright and Labour MP Benn W. Levy (1900-1973), published in 1959.

2. Pottery badge flyer. The 'peace sign' was designed by artist and CND member Gerald Holtham (1914-1985) and was initially distributed in the form of white and black ceramic badges made by designer Eric Austen (1922-1999). This flyer explains the origin and meaning of the symbol.

3. Advice to Marchers flyers for the 1961 and 1963 Aldermaston marches, both a single sheet folded once. These provide details of the route and activities, do's and dont's, and recommended clothing and supplies.

4. Women Ask Why: An Intelligent Woman's Guide to Nuclear Disarmament' containing the text of three talks by novelist Iris Murdoch ('Morality and the Bomb'), developmental biologist and IVF pioneer Anne McLaren ('Genetic Effects of Radiation'), and archaeologist and peace activist Jacquetta Hawkes ('The Way Out'). The talks were presented at the Methodist Central Hall in Westminster on January 15th, 1962.

5. An attractively designed flyer with geometric decoration advertising the Easter March of 1966, and which could be used to request more information by post.

6. 'No Nuclear Weapons' by Peter Kennard and Ric Sissons, published by Pluto Press in 1981. This forty-four page booklet is extensively illustrated by photomontage artist Peter Kennard (1949 - ), including his famous 'Haywain with Cruise Missiles' based on Turner's The Hay Wain.

The Committee of 100 was a splinter group of the CND, founded by Bertrand Russell and other organisation leaders to engage in non-violent civil disobedience as a compliment the CND's non-confrontational approach. It quickly became successful, and the first event was a sit-down demonstration at the Ministry of Defence on February 18th, 1961 in which several thousand people took part. But debts, internal conflict, heavy-handed police action, and the shifting of focus to other causes took a toll. In 1962 the national organisation disbanded in favour of regional groups, of which the London branch was the most active. Russell resigned in 1963, and the committee as a whole was wound down in 1968.

The most significant Committee of 100 items in this collection are:

7. Mimeographed hand-out dated February 11, 1961, providing details and advice for the Committee's first action on February 18th, 1961. It explains that 'the number of people pledged to participate in the sit-down... totalled 2,040 by this morning. Pledges are still being received at a rate of 40-50 per day and a large and effective protest is now assured.' Participants are advised to contact their local news outlets and to put up posters, accommodation is available at the Stoke Newington Society of Friends Meeting House, and advice is given on how to deal with police and press on the day.

8. 'Anti-Polaris demonstration 18th Feb', flyer advertising the first action, which is take place 'about the time that the U.S. depot ship carrying Polaris Missiles is expected to arrive in the Clyde'. The demonstrators 'intended to serve notice on the Government that they can no longer stand aside whilst preparations are being made for the destruction of mankind'. Speakers are to be Bertrand Russell, art historian Herbert Read, and poet Hugh McDiarmid. Strikingly designed and incorporating the CND logo.

9. 'Legal Briefing for all Demonstrators' for the action on February 18th, 1961, single sheet folded once. A detailed explanation of the procedure for arrests and potential charges and penalties for participation.

10. 'The Policy of the Committee of 100', single sheet flyer. An early, undated flyer explaining the Committee's aims and principles.

11. 'Committee of 100 Announces a Public Assembly in Parliament Square', single sheet folded once. This flyer advertises the Committee's second major action, a sit-down assembly in Parliament Square. With advice for the day and illustrated with photographs of the February 18 event, including a large crowd with Parliament in the background, and Bertrand Russell and Reverend Michael Scott seated on the ground.

12. Large flyer, single sheet folded once, describing the Committee's purpose, its first three actions, and the response of the authorities, and stating that the next demonstration is planned for December 9th, 1961. The cover of this striking publication is a black and white photograph of a protester being dragged from Trafalgar Square.

13. 'Mass Resistance, Saturday, 9th December 1961', single sheet folded once. This flyer advertises the Committee's fourth action, the simultaneous blocking of the NATO base at Wethersfield, USAF headquarters at Ruislip, and the strategic bomber base at Brize Norton, with demonstrations in Cardiff, Bristol, Yorkshire, and Manchester. It was at this point that the authorities began taking the organisation very seriously. Its office was raided and six members arrested and jailed for conspiracy, though the police refused to arrest Bertrand Russell when he put himself forward.

14. 'Air Ministry: Mass Sit-Down, 7,000 Strong', single sheet of yellow paper printed in black. After the arrest of the 'Wethersfield Six', many activists felt that mass civil disobedience had failed to accomplish the group's aims or change public opinion, and support began to dwindle. This flyer was distributed to advertise a 1962 demonstration that was to take place on September 9th, but had to be called off due to lack of participants.

15. Poster for a 'Public Assembly, Richmond Terrace, Air Ministry, September 23 3pm'. This poster, printed in red and green on white, advertises the assembly planned to replace the cancelled sit-down protest.

16. 'Danger! Official Secret: RSG-6' by Spies for Peace, published on Good Friday 1963. Just off the normal Aldermaston march route was a secret government complex, RSG 6. Regional Seats of Government were part of civil defense planning, designed to support government continuity in the event of nuclear attack, and their existence was revealed by a group of Committee activists calling themselves Spies for Peace, led by Peter Cadogan (1921-2007). During the 1963 march, Spies for Peace proposed a breakaway from the main route to demonstrate at RSG 6. This six-leaf mimeographed hand-out describes in great detail the role of the facility, with a room-by-room plan of its layout and a map showing how to reach it from the march. The introduction states that 4,000 copies were printed and a number sent to prominent politicians, government officials such as the head of MI5, and other activists.

Also part of this group are three publications from outside the CND and Committee. A Socialist Labour League booklet titled 'CND and Politics' by G. Gale; 'Nuclear Testing and Disarmament' by the United States Information Service, and 'Freedom from War' by The United States Department of State.

27 loose flyers, pamphlets, and booklets, and 1 poster (50 x 38 cm). Some creasing, toning, and spotting, occasional short closed tears, poster unused, overall very good condition.