Graham F. Page - John Lennon & Yoko Ono – “An Alchemical Wedding”, Royal Albert Hall, 18 December 1968 – Limited
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Selected by Andrew Costolloe
Has 25 years collecting records specialising in multiple rock genres. Toured Europe as musician.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
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Graham F. Page presents a limited portfolio of John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the Royal Albert Hall, 18 December 1968, titled John Lennon & Yoko Ono – “An Alchemical Wedding”, published in 1993 as edition 218/500 with three silver gelatin prints measuring about 18 × 24 cm, hand-signed and housed in the original cream folder in pristine condition.
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Description from the seller
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.
Seller's Story
The Vinyl Atelier is run by Lars & Mees, two passionate record collectors from the Netherlands. We carefully source collectible vinyl, with a focus on rare pressings, iconic artists and special editions. Every record is personally inspected, graded and photographed, with honest descriptions and careful packaging. Our goal is simple: offering great records to collectors worldwide with the quality and service we would expect ourselves.
Translated by Google TranslateAn 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.
Seller's Story
The Vinyl Atelier is run by Lars & Mees, two passionate record collectors from the Netherlands. We carefully source collectible vinyl, with a focus on rare pressings, iconic artists and special editions. Every record is personally inspected, graded and photographed, with honest descriptions and careful packaging. Our goal is simple: offering great records to collectors worldwide with the quality and service we would expect ourselves.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Date of print
1993
Artist
Graham F. Page
Sold by
Direct from the artist
Title of artwork
John Lennon & Yoko Ono – “An Alchemical Wedding”, Royal Albert Hall, 18 December 1968 – Limited
Condition
Extremely fine
Technique
Gelatin-silver print
Height
32 cm
Edition
218/500
Width
22 cm
Signature
Hand signed
Genre
Photojournalism
Sold by
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