Ray Johnson. Correspondence and flyers

(1) Three page stapled ensemble, with original typed letter from Johnson to John Gibson, hand-signed, stamped and dated 20 July 1971. Features a proposal to offer his work to the New York gallerist, including prices, and two photocopied letters from Aviva Kramer and Henry Geldzahler. (2) A4 flyer for the First Buddha University Meeting for Mary Josephson at Paula Cooper Gallery New York on June 9 1973. Folded, with mild diagonal crease. (3) Buddha Shit, Buddha University, 3 June 1973. Vintage Xerox of a typed story about finding a package of shit on the streets of Soho, and showing it to passers-by Mel Bochner and Richard Serra. Browning of paper, otherwise in good condition, and very amusing. (4) NoSeNo gallery vintage photocopy flyer on pink paper, announcement for the exhibition 'Friends' at the Lower East side gallery Oct. 21 - Nov. 10 (no year, early 1980s). (5-6) A4 flyer and one perforated poststamp sheet with signature 'bunny faces' featuring 'The Only Correspondence Dinner' at Katz's Deli in New York on 15 January 1999, presented by The New York Correspondance School of San Francisco. (total 5)

Ray Johnson (1927-1995) was a seminal figure in the history of Neo-Dada and early Pop art known for his collages, Mail art and performances. In 1962 he founded the New York Correspondance (sic) School (NYCS), an early social network of artists exchanging art through the postal system. Johnson distributed flyers that called for 'meetings' of the NYCS and the associated Buddha University, where he sometimes held a 'nothing' performance, though many flyers announced fictive meetings.