Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$4,200.00
Starting bid: $1.00
It is our pleasure to offer the FIRST CGC graded example of this Grateful Dead Original Poster to EVER appear at public auction! This poster was produced for the Dead and New Riders of the Purple Sage appearing at the Mayser Center at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster PA on April 10th 1971. It’s by far one of the most unique and most difficult to find Grateful Dead concert posters we’ve ever handled.
This is obviously the FIRST CGC graded specimen to ever be auctioned the FIRST specimen that PAE has EVER auctioned and just the THIRD to EVER appear at public auction!
The poster was printed on thick card stock and created by noted artist / designer Spencer Zahn. The bottom right corner of the poster bears a Franklin & Marshall College Classroom stamp along with initials and date written in ink adding to it's authenticity and historic value. The image of this issue is proudly documented in The Art of Rock Book plate 4.212. The Dead’s concert has been documented here including a splendid version of “Sing Me Back Home”.
Spencer Zahn is a widely recognized artist and designer of the era having sold out his first public art exhibition the same year this Dead poster was produced. Zahn designed several concert posters during the seventies for other Pennsylvania venues like the Electric Factory and the Philadelphia Spectrum featuring Alice Cooper Isaac Hayes The Band and many more. He also designed the album cover for Procol Harum’s Grand Hotel record. Zahn has been commissioned by artists like Eric Clapton Elton John and the Rolling Stones for live concert stage design as well.
This is another of several FRESH CGC graded lots in this auction that have been off the market for many DECADES. This specimen came from a New Jersey / Philadelphia native that was a passionate lifelong collector. It contains extra collector POWER by exhibiting the Franklin & Marshall College Classroom stamp in the lower right – the ONLY example we’ve ever seen with this very special trait. We couldn’t be more thrilled to finally offer a treasure like this with world class third party certification and authentication!
Our archives show just two other auction appearance EVER. That specimen realized $4048 on 8/15/13 and another specimen realized $5736.00 on 11/19/17. Of course those specimens were NOT independently authenticated and graded by CGC and did not have the highly coveted University stamp.
Another important note please look at the fully blown up image of this poster. If ever their was an example of CGC's SUPER STRICT grading this poster is it. This poster is ALL THERE. Sure there are stretched pinholes in each corner and various instances of creases and handling but in our opinion this poster should be graded MANY levels higher than 5.0. The winning bidder will truly be receiving ALOT more than they bargained for!
Estimate: $3 500-$7 000
Poster – Grateful Dead Lancaster
Grade – CGC 5.0
Bands/Bill – Grateful Dead NRPS
Venue – The Mayser Center at Franklin and Marshall College
City – Lancaster PA
Date – 4/10/71
Dimensions – 16 5/64" x 17 44/64"
Printing – OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Artist – Spencer Zahn
Paper Type – Thick Card Stock
Condition Details - 100% Original with no restoration. View the detailed high res photo of this lot. Click on the thumbnail photo to see an enlarged photo. Click a second time on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the enlarged photo. A super high res image with every millimeter will now be clearly displayed. For a personalized eyewitness examination call 410-464-6180 11:00 am to 6:00 pm eastern.
*****This poster is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****
*A 20% Buyers Premium will be added to the final hammer price of this lot.*
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