A NEAR COMPLETE RUN OF 28 NUMBERS OF FILE MAGAZINE INCLUDING ULTRA RARE NRS 1 AND 2 .

Toronto: General Idea, 1972 – 1983
27 issues including the ultra rare first ever issue.

Here we offer an incomplete if extensive run of this important artist’s journal which was founded by General Idea. The numbers here include

Vol 1 Nr 1, Vol 1 Nr 2/3, Vol 1 Nr 4; Vol 2 Nrs 1/2, 3, 4, 5; Vol 3 Nrs 1, 2, 3, 4; Vol 4 Nrs 1, 2, 3, 4; Vol 5 Nrs 1, 2, 3, 4; Vol 6 Nrs 1/2, 3 and the numbers 25, 27, 28 and final issue 29.

File was General Idea’s art periodical counterpoint to the USA’s LIFE magazine and the earlier numbers parodied the covers of that better known publication. Content is a mixture of conceptual, mail and intermedia art including the GI’s own work – often with a homoerotic element. Ray Johnson was a frequent contributor here and Issue 1 famously has Mr Peanut on the cover and there is a full page b/w portrait of Johnson on page 3 of the Vol 1 Nr 4 issue.

The first two numbers offered here are very rare indeed. 

Most COPIES show shelf wear and some wear down the spines (5/4 has a few ink marks on the front cover which do not really detract). Over all a substantial and nearly complete run of this influential artist publication

Notable amongst the run is the General Idea number (5/4) which has a content entirely of three day-glo stylised poodles in various adventurous and flexible sexual positions and can be regarded in itself as an artist’s book.

The price is for the entire group of 28 numbers (missing only nr 26).