The manuscript for Grapefruit, Yoko Ono's seminal fluxus piece, has achieved $485,000 at Sotheby's New York.
The work headlined the Fine Books and Manuscripts auction on December 5, realising a figure close to the high end of its $300,000-500,000 estimate.
 The manuscript is presented in a stainless steel box |
First published in 1964, Grapefruit is comprised of a set of event scores that offer instructions for the individual to enact.
It was an early influence on conceptualism in its framing of art as a transgressive and subversive activity that could be performed by anyone.
The lot is made up of 151 white Japanese "Apollo" postcards with Ono's additions and annotations in ink, along with a title card with an Ono-penned note to the publisher that reads: "There are more pieces of this period that I can send you by next mail which I would like to include in the book."
The publisher was George Maciunas, himself an important figure in 20th century art.
As the central coordinator for fluxus, he was instrumental in organising various events and facilitating the printing of many of its most enduring works.
Just 500 copies of Grapefruit were printed in 1964, with a second edition released in 1970 - which included John Lennon's famous introduction "Hi I'm John Lennon / I'd like you to meet Yoko Ono".
In 2009 the manuscript was exhibited for the first time, at the Stendahl Gallery in Chelsea, London.
PFC Auctions is currently offering this card signed by Yoko Ono.
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