IPSO

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The International Publishers' Speculative Organization was the second British fannish APA after OMPA, although international in its intent and soon majority of its members were Americans. It was founded in April 1961 (after preliminary announcements at the end of 1960) by George Locke and John Berry on the idea that each mailing will have a predetermined theme 

which, it is hoped, the members will discuss in essay form […] It will not be mandatory to follow the set subject, though, and there is no restriction on the type of material, so long as there is nothing to which the Post Office will take exception.

Somewhat confusingly, IPSO's constitution stated "The title of the combo-volume will be Ipso Facto'". Some bibliographies (including this Fancy at least until 2024) considered that only the title of the few added pages serving as the official organ, describing the whole bound mailings as IPSO, like is common with other APAs.

Berry dropped out after the fourth mailing (beginning his gradual gafiation), but Locke remained a member for the entire run. By the third mailing there were twenty-five members, seventeen of them from the US. That was the high point (so the original limit of 30 was never reached, as "Allowed to miss one mailing in four" turned out too strict for many), and membership thereafter declined rapidly, the 6th mailing being the last, within two years from the start.

There was a 7th mailing announced for November 1962, but only three contributions were received and George Locke declared it dead. He offered to help with a revival under new management, but no one took him up on the offer. Later, Fred Patten did an unofficial 7th mailing using the material that had arrived on schedule plus one or two other contributions.

Mail­ing Date Pp Theme OE / Notes
#00 November 1960 2 A two-page announcement George Locke & John Berry
#0 18 Letters in response to #00 George Locke & John Berry
#1 April 1961 "APAs" Ted Forsyth & Joe Patrizio
#2 July 1961 "The Lunatic Fringes of SF, and Editorial Influences" Ted Forsyth
#3 October 1961 78 "Time Travel", ed. Ted Forsyth. Listing of contributions adds up to 72 pp, plus covers (only front page printed, says IPSO FACTO #3), Contents (verso empty), IPSO JURE Constitution (2pp), ROSTER and "Sub-assembly" editorial 1p each.
#4 January 1962 "The Works of Robert A. Heinlein" Ted Forsyth
#5 "Sex and Science Fiction" Ted Forsyth
#6 "Progress" (effect of rapid technical advance on society) George Locke
#7 A delayed final mailing of remaining material Fred Patten

Members and Contributions:

Membership numbers were given in Ipso Facto. (The list is not complete yet). Contributions often did not have a particular title of their own except the issue's theme per the constitution's 

Headings - no restrictions. However, do NOT regard your contributions as fanzines to be stapled up, but rather as contributions to a large combo-zine.

HONORARY MEMBERS   Copyright Receipt Office,British Museum,London WCl,Eng.

Ipso Facto online at fanac.org, issues 3 to 5 only

Publication 1961—1962
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