Jürgen O. Olbrich. Collective-Copy and Test-Copy

Artists' publications forming part of a mail art project initiated by Olbrich in 1977, produced in Kassel. Comprised of discarded photocopies, assembled by the artist, and sent to 10 people from his Mail Art Network. The introduction states: 'Collective Copy is free. It is done by various unknown people who have thrown away fotocopies (sic). I have put them together again to this magazine/book which is issued three times a year. 10 Collective Copies are sent to people listed below. Every copy is different.'

(1) Collective-Copy 8, 9, 10, undated (ca. 1983). Softcover, 29 x 21 cm, approx. 100 pp. Each sheet numbered and hand-stamped 'Collective Copy' on rear. Cover with mounted photocopy, postage stamps, and hand-stamped title. Among the 10 recipients were: Albrecht D., Wolf Vostell, Robert Rehfeldt and Genesis P. Orridge. (2) Test-Copy, undated (ca. 1983). Softcover, 29 x 21 cm, approx. 100 pp. Supplement to the above publication, released only once a year and mailed to 10 people. Listed are Ulises Carrion, Genesis P. Orridge, Boris Nieslony et al. The introduction mentions that one could receive a Collective-Copy/Test-Copy only once in a lifetime, suggesting that these copies originally derive from Genesis P. Orridge, as he appears in both lists. Ref.: Gwen Allen, Artists' Magazines, 2011, p. 250. (total 2)