WATER YAM. ARRANGED BY GEORGE BRECHT. 1963. VERY FIRST EDITION GIVEN TO PETER MULLER BY WILLEM DE RIDDER.

NYC: Fluxus, 1963

16 x 15.5 x 5cm, two part cardboard box containing 70 event cards – of which 68 are white and two are black cards. (Later editions have about 56 white and 14 orange cards.)

This is the true first edition of this famous Fluxus multiple which was conceived by Georges Brecht but designed by Georges Maciunas and to some extent Thomas Smit.

This example is an association copy in that it was given by Maciunas to Willem De Ridder for sale in his European Mailorder House but De Ridder gave it to Peter Muller who in turn gave it to his son from whom this was indirectly obtained.

The box is damaged – there are creases and bends and tears and cuts all over in both parts (see photographs) and the label is browned and (Ironically) this example of Water Yam has some evidence of past damp. The contents however are in CG+ condition and are astonishingly complete.

This is an extremely rare item in any condition and major Fluxus collections often do not have it.