Images of Avatar 25, previously assumed 'extinct', are presented here, 40 years after the dateline.

Brian Keating in NY Avatar #5 (June 1, 1968):

"Last week or so, at about four o'clock on Saturday morning, I confiscated 45,000 copies of a newspaper. Or, as some sticklers for semantics would have, I stole the 45,000 copies."

Both Giuliano 2007 and Kindman 1993 report that the "confiscated" paper was sold as scrap. But a few issues escaped. Charles Giuliano, the editor, reports (2007) that he "took a bundle home" when they were first delivered; Brian Kelly, in Boston Free Press (May, 1968), that "approximately 1000 copies of No. 25... were distributed in the Harvard Square area."

In 2008 I corresponded with Todd Seeleman, who had a complete collection of Avatars, including, as it turned out, the elusive #25. The images shown here are based on Todd's issue, from which he generously provided excellent high-quality scans.

Published sources of information relating to the event...

1. Boston Free Press, May 1968 - "Avatar Job Nets 45000" - Brian Kelly

2. Boston Free Press, June 1968 - "Avatar Heist" - Brian Kelly

3. NY Avatar #4, May 10 1968, pp9-11 - "Last Week" by John Wilton (NY editor)
4. NY Avatar #5, June 1, 1968, p3 - "Last Week" by Brian Keating (editor)
5. NY Avatar #5, June 1, 1968, p2 "Letters" - letter to Wilton from Arden re: 3
6. NY Avatar #6, July, 1968, p5 "Letters" - letter to Keating from Giuliano re: 4

7. Boston Avatar Volume II, 1968

8. Avatar #25, "Changes" - Brian Kelly, 1968

9. Avatar #25, "An Editorial, Huh?" - Charles Giuliano, 1968

10. Michael Kindman, 1993, on Avatar issue No. 24...

In December, 2007 I wrote to Charles Giuliano, Editor of the issue, asking for information about #25. He generously agreed to provide a brief article with some of his recollections of the times and the event:

11. "Avatar Issue #25" - Charles Giuliano, 2007.