Envelope Collecitve 2: The Water Torturer (back)

Envelope Collecitve 2: The Water Torturer (back)
Originally uploaded by pantufla.

The Envelope Collective is an ongoing collaborative experiment in art that uses the transportation of mail as a medium. The website serves as an online gallery for those pieces that we receive. It was started by two fellows named Garrett & Adam who think that art is one of the best things in the whole wide world ever.

You can reach us by email at hey [at] envelopecollective [dot] com, if you feel so inclined.
And of course, your next logical question is...

Odds series 1: Alexis Vincent Charles Berbiguer de Terre Neuve du Thyme

Odds series 1: Alexis Vincent Charles Berbiguer de Terre Neuve du Thyme
Originally uploaded by pantufla.

Alexis-Vincent-Charles Berbiguier de Terre-Neuve du Thym, (1765 - December 3, 1851), was a French author and demonologist who may have been suffering from psychosis. He was born, and died, in Carpentras in the south of France, and was the heir to an estate, which he used to finance the publication of his unusual memoirs. He is remembered chiefly for his lengthy biography, Les farfadets ou Tous les démons ne sont pas de l'autre monde ("The Imps; or, All the demons are not from the other world"), originally published in three volumes between 1818 and 1820. The book was handsomely illustrated by a series of lithographs whose originals were sketched by Berbiguier himself.

This autobiography recounts Berbiguier's life long struggle with farfadets, "imps" or "goblins". He relates that these imps harassed him persistently ever since his unfortunate encounter with two "sibyls", or fortune tellers, whom he consulted in an idle moment in his youth. For this sin, he was delivered into the hands of impish tormentors. The imps continued to follow Berbiguier through several lengthy stays in Avignon and Paris. The chief imp among his tormentors was named Rhotomago; Rhotomago's immediate superior was Beelzebub himself. He alleged that he received, and answered, written correspondence from all of these Hellish dignitaries.

By research and experiment Berbiguier determined a number of herbal and other remedies that had the power to keep the imps in check. He wrote his book, he relates, to reveal his struggles and his methods to the world. In an eloquent if presumptuous dedication, he addresses himself to:

A TOUS LES EMPEREURS, ROIS, PRINCES, SOUVERAINS DES QUATRES PARTIES DU MONDE

Sires,

Pères des peuples, qui représentez sur la terre de Dieu de Paix et de consolation, qui est dans le ciel, réunissez vos efforts aux miens pour détruire l'influence des Démons, Sorciers et Farfadets, qui désolent les malheureux habitants de vos Etats. Vous voyez à vos pieds le plus infortuné des hommes; les tourments auxquels je suis en lutte depuis plus de vingt-trois ans sont les plus beaux titres que je puisse avoir à un de vos regards paternels.

Ah ! Il y a déjà longtemps que les persécutions diaboliques des Farfadets auraient eu un terme sur la terre, si quelqu'un de vos sujets avait eu le courage de vous les dévoiler. C'est pour les démasquer que je vous dédie mon ouvrage; vous ne serez pas insensibles à mes tourments, vous les ferez cesser dès qu'ils vous seront connus.

TO ALL THE EMPERORS, KINGS, PRINCES, AND SOVEREIGNS OF THE FOUR PARTS OF THE WORLD

Milords,

Fathers of nations, you who represent the heavenly God of peace and consolation on earth, unite your efforts to my own to destroy the power of Demons, Witches, and Imps, that devastate the unhappy dwellers of your countries. You see at your feet the most unfortunate of men; the torments with which I have struggled for these twenty-five years are the best titles that I can bear before your paternal gaze.

Ah! The diabolical persecutions of the Imps would have long since been ended on Earth, had one of your subjects had the courage to reveal them to you. It is in order to unmask them that I have dedicated my work to you, that you may not be heedless to my torments, and that you will work to end them now that they are known to you.

The autobiography relates Berbiguier's struggles with the imps. He was able to capture some of them, and confine them in bottles. Sulphur and thyme were two odours he found were effective to repel them. The book tells of an adventure he had with firefighters during a sojourn in Paris, where he attracted the alarmed notice of neighbours by burning sulphur to keep the imps at bay. Notwithstanding his efforts, the imps continued to tempt and torment him. The title de Terre-Neuve du Thym was self-bestowed; it means "of the New World of Thyme," and shows his hope that revealing his methods will renew the world and purge it of impish influences. He also bestowed upon himself the style Le Fléau des Farfadets, "the Scourge of the Imps."

(from wikipedia)

Odds series 2: "General" Daniel Pratt Jr., "The Great American Traveler"

Odds series 2: "General" Daniel Pratt Jr., "The Great American Traveler"
Originally uploaded by pantufla.

"General” Daniel Pratt, Jr. (born 11 April 1809 in Prattville, Chelsea, Massachusetts; died 21 June 1887 in Boston) was an American itinerant speaker, author, performance-artist, eccentric, and poet.

Trained as a carpenter, Pratt abandoned this craft and instead spent his time in wandering about the country doing freelance lecturing. He claimed to have walked over 200,000 miles, from Maine to the Dakotas, visiting 27 states and 16 Indian tribes.^[1] He was widely known as the “Great American Traveler,” which was how he referred to himself in his characteristic disdain for modesty. His visits to American colleges came to be regarded by the students almost as a regular feature of campus life.^[2]

He was often an appreciated and honored guest and speaker, though usually met with tongue-in-cheek praise. At times, though, his welcome came pre-worn-out, as when he rushed in on Leonard Bacon as he was entertaining guests at home, shook his hand and announced expectantly, “I, Sir, am no less a man than Daniel Pratt — Daniel Pratt, Sir, the great American traveler!” Dr. Bacon, unimpressed, replied, “All right — Travel!”^[3]

Pratt was a prolific and generous generator of ideas, but in spite of this was heard to complain that “it was utterly impossible for him to talk fast enough to get out his ideas, so rapidly did they grow in his fertile brain.”^[4]

(from wikipedia)