Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$2,640.00
Starting bid: $1.00
This poster is signed in pencil by the artist the late great Alton Kelley!
Here is the chance to acquire one of the most famous and popular Grateful Dead posters of the era and it's only the FIRST SIGNED CGC Graded Original Printing example to ever appear at public auction!
This Alton Kelley design pokes fun at the D.I.Y. nature of the Carousel. The Carousel Ballroom was a short lived venture that was funded and managed by the Dead and Airplane. After they lost enough money and realized it was not their game the space was taken over by Bill Graham and became the Fillmore West.
Don't let the 9.0 Grade fool you. CGC is very strict on this issue at alltimes due to it's heavy black design that is NEVER fully and evenly printed without slight blemishes.Examples of this poster can be found with big tears paper loss and pinholes from time to time. However overall this issue is extremely hard to find in ANY condition. Super clean condition with tape on the reverse being a primary reason for it not earning a 9.6 or 9.8 grade. In the photo a light scratch on the surface of the plastic CGC holder is visible in the lower right corner however it is only on the outside of the plastic holder and NOT on the poster itself.
In September 2018 a MUCH lower 7.0 graded example reached $1610 in our auction however that example was not signed. This 9.0 graded example here is the epitome of a “blue chip” poster. It is the finest quality we have handled. A famous design a famous band and ultra rare in this state of preservation. Low availability and ultra high demand! As an added “wow" this particular example has been SIGNED by the late great artist Alton Kelley! A treasure that will bring you satisfaction with each passing year!
Estimate: $3 000-$6 000
Poster – Grateful Dead Carousel Ballroom
Subtitle- AOR 2.172 Sore Thumb
Grade – CGC 9.0
Bands/Bill – Grateful Dead Jefferson Airplane
Venue – Carousel Ballroom
City – San Francisco CA
Date – 3/15-17/68
Dimensions – 14” x 19 15/16”
Printing – OP-1 Original Pre-Concert First Printing
Artist – Alton Kelley
Condition Details - Super clean! 2 pieces of tape top edge on the reverse light matte burn. 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 6:00pm 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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