Graham F.

An intimate and historically significant photographic record of John Lennon and Yoko Ono at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 18 December 1968, documenting one of the earliest public manifestations of their artistic partnership. This limited-edition portfolio, numbered 218 of just 500, brings together three black-and-white photographs taken by Graham F. Page during A Hippy Gathering: An Alchemical Wedding, an extraordinary countercultural event that took place while Lennon was still a member of The Beatles. Preserved in its original presentation folder, the collection offers a remarkable glimpse into the period when Lennon was beginning to explore the boundaries between popular music, conceptual art and public performance alongside Yoko Ono. An Alchemical Wedding — 18 December 1968 The evening at the Royal Albert Hall formed part of London’s flourishing underground arts movement, bringing together experimental musicians, poets, performers and an audience eager to participate in the radical cultural developments of the late 1960s. Lennon and Ono’s contribution was unlike a conventional musical performance. Rather than singing or playing instruments, the couple entered a large white bag onstage, remaining concealed from the audience for approximately half an hour. This extraordinary artistic gesture was an early expression of the philosophy that became known as Bagism, through which Lennon and Ono explored the possibility of communication without the prejudices and preconceptions associated with physical appearance. The performance anticipated the conceptual art interventions and international peace campaigns that would define the couple’s public activities during 1969. The event also attracted considerable contemporary attention following an incident involving a member of the audience who removed her clothing, leading to police intervention and subsequent newspaper coverage. The photographs of Graham F. Page The present portfolio contains three black-and-white photographic prints documenting Lennon and Ono inside the Royal Albert Hall during this extraordinary evening. The images capture informal moments surrounding their appearance, including Lennon handling the large white fabric associated with the performance and photographs of the couple moving among those present in the auditorium. Rather than conventional promotional portraits, the photographs convey the spontaneous atmosphere of the happening, with the crowded auditorium and its participants forming an essential part of the compositions. Photographer Graham F. Page is identified through an accompanying facsimile declaration on his professional letterhead, in which he confirms having taken the photographs at the Royal Albert Hall on 18 December 1968. The declaration additionally references the contemporary newspaper coverage and the historical circumstances of the event. According to the publication’s accompanying documentation, the photographic prints were produced from Page’s original black-and-white negatives. The limited-edition portfolio The photographs were subsequently brought together in this carefully presented German photographic edition, bearing a 1993 copyright notice. The cream-coloured presentation folder features distinctive blue psychedelic lettering reading JOHN & YOKO, together with the venue and date of the event and a decorative floral motif. The accompanying German-language historical text describes the circumstances of the evening and includes an account of the contemporary press coverage. The portfolio also preserves reproductions of historical documents associated with the event, including a Royal Albert Hall admission ticket dated 18 December 1968. A facsimile of Graham F. Page’s handwritten declaration provides an especially interesting documentary accompaniment, connecting the images with the photographer’s own account of their origin. Edition and contents This is copy number 218 of a strictly numbered edition of 500. The edition number is handwritten on the individual photographic sheets and within the presentation folder. The set comprises: * Three black-and-white photographic prints after Graham F. Page’s 1968 negatives, individually numbered 218/500. * Original cream-coloured presentation folder with blue JOHN & YOKO typography. * Facsimile handwritten declaration by photographer Graham F. Page on his professional letterhead. * Reproduction of a contemporary Daily Mirror newspaper report. * Reproduction of the original Royal Albert Hall admission ticket, dated 18 December 1968. * German-language historical and explanatory text. * Decorative Alchemical Wedding Party ’68 emblem incorporated into the presentation. Photographer: Graham F. Page Subjects: John Lennon and Yoko Ono Location: Royal Albert Hall, London, England Date of photographs: 18 December 1968 Portfolio: Limited photographic edition bearing a 1993 copyright date Edition: 218/500 Photographs: Approximately 18 × 24 cm, subject to measurement Signature: Photographer’s letter reproduced in facsimile; not an original handwritten autograph Presentation: Original folding portfolio Historical significance December 1968 marked an extraordinary transitional moment in John Lennon’s life. The Beatles’ White Album had been released only weeks earlier, while Lennon’s collaboration with Yoko Ono was developing into a radical departure from the conventions of popular music and celebrity. Their Royal Albert Hall appearance preceded their marriage in March 1969 and the internationally publicised peace demonstrations that followed. These photographs therefore preserve a significant early episode in the artistic partnership of two of the twentieth century’s most influential cultural figures. A compelling photographic and documentary ensemble for collectors of The Beatles, John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the history of 1960s conceptual and performance art.

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