Lot 234: George Maciunas (1931-1978) FLUXUS 1. 1964

[MACIUNAS, George (1931-1978) editor]. Fluxus 1. [New York/Wiesbaden:] 1964 The very first publication of Fluxus, a seminal piece of Conceptual art. Fluxus developed as an avant-garde artistic movement with its roots in a loose international, interdisciplinary community of artists, composers, designers and poets. George Maciunas, a Lithuanian immigrant to the United States, became heavily involved in New York's artistic community while studying at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts. Heavily influenced by John Cage's Experimental Music Composititon classes at the New School for Social Research, Maciunas held music and other events at the AG Gallery in 1961. These involved, or brought him into the orbit of, artists such as Toshi Ichiyanagi, Mac Low, Dick Higgins, La Monte Young, Yoko Ono, Joseph Byrd, Robert Morris and George Brecht. In 1963, Maciunas published the Fluxus Manifesto, in which he stated the Fluxus movement was to 'promote a revolutionary flood and tide in art', and emphasized the artistic process over the finished product. Maciunas conceived a series of object multiples in order to promote Fluxus, of which the present lot is one. Although envisaged as being 'unlimited' editions, not many were relased due to production difficulties. This lot is an early issue with the 1964 imprint label, and contains contributions by Dick Higgins (before his feud with Maciunas), Joe Jones' 'A Favorite Song', Emmett Williams, Gyorgy Ligeti, Jackson Mac Low, Chieko Shiomi, and La Monte Young. As there is no standard collation, the present lot is sold as catalogued and viewed. We have only been able to trace one other copy at auction in the past 40 years. Quarto (190 x 210 mm). 53 leaves, comprising some 28 leaves of photographic illustration, of which 21 printed on transparent overlays, 4 of illustration, and 21 letterpress or typographic in nature, including 7 with musical scores; 12 envelopes, of which 2 comprise the front and rear wrappers, with printed matter or small objects enclosed, including amongst other objects: a strip of celluloid film, a 7-inch record, a surgical glove, white folded paper napkin; 3 loosely inserted items: folding sheet 484 x 640mm of prints of bare feet and shoe soles; origami piece of folded turquoise paper; and a small card with decorative spiral of feet and the words: 'Theatre Music. Keep walking intenly. T. Kosugi' (one transparent leaf lightly creased). Original envelope wrappers, with the title printed using an ink stamp multiple times on upper cover, printed label 'I am not You[nge]' on lower cover, publisher's imprint on lebl pasted on inside front cover, bound using three aluminium nuts, bolts and washers (front wrapper lacking envelope flap, extremities a trifled rubbed; without the original mailing box).