JOHNSON, Ray

The Paper Snake

New York: Something Else Press, (1965). First Edition. First printing. Oblong quarto (22cm x 28cm). Color pictorial cloth-covered boards; dustjacket; unpaginated [50pp]. Tight, straight, and unmarked - a Fine copy. In the original dustwrapper, unclipped (priced $3.47 on front flap), clean and crisp but for a brief closed tear (1") to bottom edge of rear panel, accompanied by a tiny triangular loss (ca. 1/8"); still Near Fine.

The first commercially-published volume devoted to Johnson's work, comprised of texts, graphics, mail art and assorted Pop and Fluxus-inspired work by the noted avant-garde figure once described as "New York's most famous unknown artist." In a 1968 interview, Johnson described the book as, "...all my writings, rubbings, plays, things that I had given to the publisher, Dick Higgins, editor and publisher [of Something Else Press]." A quintessential artist's book of the Sixties, very nicely preserved.

Price: $300.00

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